School Safety

With the recent tragedy in Connecticut, many parents including myself, are asking themselves how safe are my children at school?  In Garfield School District we do have emergency plans in place for each school.  Teachers have a double locking system on their classroom doors.  Drills are practiced in each school for fire, earthquake and lockdowns.  We have a phone system called Parent Link that has the ability to call every parent in the District in less than two minutes. With these precautions in place, this does not mean we cannot improve in school safety.  I have scheduled a meeting with Sheriff Perkins to review each school’s safety plan.  Plans will be updated, police offices will have keys to the schools, and some external doors will be locked.  We ask parents to check their students out of the office rather than going to the students classrooms.  The District will continue to review and modify school safety plans.    I thank you for entrusting us with your children and their education.  We will continue to make the schools as safe as possible.  On a positive note, I would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

–Superintendent Dalton