FLorida Shooting Statement

Here is the text of a statement made to the BUHS Community on February 16th. We're hoping that when we return from break, we'll be engaging in a meaning dialogue to discuss how we can implement proactive steps to increase our sense of school safety by improving communication. Statement follows:

As many of you may already know, on Wednesday afternoon 17 lives were lost in a school shooting in Parkland, Florida. This marks the another  school shooting event in our country in 2018 and once again we are a community and nation in mourning.
 
Please join me in a moment of silence as we remember the victims of Wednesdays event, as well as the victims of earlier events from this year.
 
Please know it is okay to grieve. It is okay to feel scared, to feel helpless, and even to feel angry. It is appropriate to ask questions about safety.
 
This event also raises questions about the safety for all of us, not only here at school, but throughout our daily lives. 
 
 
People often ask me as the school principal, what else can we be doing prevent these types of events here at BUHS?  We have well thought out procedures and actions that we practice if we are threatened. We have a well coordinated plan with local and state agencies in the event that something like this happens here. Please understand those steps are reactions, not prevention. They are good steps, but our community needs to focus on and take an active prevention as well.
 
What you can do is look out for your friends and colleagues.  If you become aware of a person in this community in need or contemplating harm to others, I urge all of you to speak up. Talk with myself, Ms. Margaitis, Ms. Kaufmann, Captain Anderson or any adult you trust.  Now more than ever, we need to do what we can as a community to make sure that we are looking out for each other and taking action when it is appropriate to do so.  Not only might you avert a tragedy here at BUHS, you will also help a person in need.
 
I ask you all to be part of a united front to help us keep our community safe. BUHS and the Brattleboro area is an incredible and unique place ; your love and support for each other keeps it that way.
 
Thank you.