Fayette will be ‘vigilant’ on last day of school, Liggins says in Texas tragedy note

In the wake of a Texas school shooting that killed 19 children and two adults, Fayette Superintendent Demetrus Liggins asked families to have patience with security measures at last day of school events.

Wednesday is the last day of school in Fayette County Public Schools and many campuses have planned celebrations and special events, Liggins said. Security measures haven’t been implemented solely because of the Texas shooting, but Liggins has asked that families understand the need for the precautions.

“Please be patient and understand that we must still be vigilant about following all district procedures regarding locked doors, building access, and supervision,” he said in a message to families Tuesday.

Although the deadly shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, was “far away in miles,” tragedies like the shooting hit close to home and raise anxiety and concern among students, staff, families and community members, he said.

“Please be assured that creating safe and caring environments on our campuses is our greatest priority,” Liggins said.

He said Fayette County Public Schools was fortunate that the community has helped to fund investments of more than $50 million in health and safety measures at every school.

In the past four years, the district has hired nearly 100 additional nurses and mental health professionals, built secure vestibules on every campus, added door alarms to all exterior doors, upgraded building security features, and doubled the number of police officers serving schools, he said.

Liggins asked families to minimize children’s exposure to continuous news coverage and avoid speculation about the tragedy in front of them.

Experts recommend sharing age-appropriate factual information with children and answering their questions in ways that reassure them “that an event like this is not likely to happen to you or them, “ he said.

“The unimaginable pain in Uvalde today casts a long shadow that touches all of us who have committed our lives in service to children,” he said.