Local Schools React To Shooting In Connecticut
By: Jim Madalinsky
Updated: December 14, 2012
After a school shooting in Connecticut left 27 dead, including 20 young children, people everywhere are trying to grasp how something like this could happen.
In Central Pennsylvania multiple school districts prepared for emergency situations like the one at Sandy Hook Elementary School earlier this year.
"We're very fortunate here being a school police unit. We get criminal intelligence from the Pennsylvania State Police, the Altoona Police, the Logan Township Police, so on a daily basis we can share information and try to be proactive with people who can bring harm into our district," Altoona School Police Director of Security Jack Reilly says.
The tragedy in Connecticut has also sparked local school districts to review their emergency procedures.
"We are meeting with admin to review lock down procedures and safety protocol." says Dr. Vincent DiLeo of Central Cambria Schools.
"Although we have safety procedures in place within each of our buildings, this tragedy causes us to reflect on these practices and improve how we keep your child safe while she/he is in our schools. Please know that we will ensure this work remains ongoing and includes local police and other emergency operation officials," State College Area School District Superintendent Robert O'Donnell says.
Local parents also had their eye on the story in Connecticut. One parent going to pick up his daughter says he doesn't think a school shooting happening here, isn't that far-fetched.
"This day in age it could happen anywhere, its a sad thing to think about. You think about school it's a place of sanctuary, it's not like that anymore." Paul Nasrallah says.
