BY MATT LINDSEY
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG — Ogdensburg City School District Superintendent Kevin Kendall says new safety measures in the district are aimed at keeping students and staff safe.

“After hearing of the horrific events that have transpired recently, it is only natural for students, parents, and guardians to worry about safety in our schools,” he said. “We are deeply saddened by the events that occurred in Uvalde, Texas, this week and in Buffalo earlier this month,” he said.

The Ogdensburg City School District has taken several steps to increase the safety and security of its buildings, including:

• All exterior doors are locked at all times.

• Buttons have been installed in main offices and entry areas, as well as access to cell-phone apps that can place the school buildings into lockdown status, at a moment's notice.

• The school is working with the City of Ogdensburg to employ a School Resource Officer whose top priority is ensuring staff and student safety.

• Five members of the district staff, along with two members of the Ogdensburg Police Department are being trained on assessing threats made by members of the school community. This team will soon begin to meet on a weekly basis.

• The Raptor Visitor Management System has been installed in all school buildings. This enables the school to screen visitors and track all individuals accessing school buildings.

“Please know that the Ogdensburg City School District's top priority has always been to maintain and sustain a safe learning environment,” he said. “Safety measures and protocols currently in place in our schools continue to adapt and improve as better security technology becomes available and new information behind school safety unfolds.”

Kendall said the work includes both the capital improvement aspects of safety, as well as actions and behaviors of staff in charge when children are at school.

“We recognize that while the district has many procedures, plans and tools in place, we must never become complacent when it comes to the safety of our students and staff,” Kendall said.

He urged parents to have a conversation with their children about the importance of speaking with a trusted adult when they see or hear something that is concerning. Additionally, if a community member is concerned about someone or something that could impact school safety, contact a school official or the police immediately.

“This recent tragedy has likely evoked many emotions for our school community,” Kendall said. “We recognize that some children react to tragedies such as these right away, while others may react much later. How children react, including signs of distress, can vary according to age.”

Those who have questions about how to best support a child following the tragedy, reach out to a teacher or building principal. Additionally, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers several resources on its website that specifically focus on processing events of mass violence.