Greenville School District Reacts To Connecticut Massacre

The Greenville County School District issued multiple statements Friday in the wake of the mass shooting in Connecticut that took the lives of 20 children and seven adults. 

The GCSD issued a statement assuring parents of an "extensive and comprehensive" plan that includes preventative and responsive measures for crisis situations, including situations involving an armed intruder, though details of the plan could not be released. 

"The district plan provides a common framework for all schools.  The plan was developed with input from professionals in all aspects of emergency preparedness – law enforcement, fire, EMS, and others.  As recommended emergency response procedures are updated, we constantly review and make appropriate revisions to our plan. Additionally, in the event an incident occurs, we conduct a formal debriefing for review and revision of procedures as necessary."

The school district employs a Coordinator of School Safety and Emergency Preparedness - a retired veteran law enforcement officer with experience in both law enforcement and emergency preparedness, and the district perform drills throughout year, including lockdown drills that could be used in a situation like this. 

"We have extensive and redundant communication systems in place in all locations. We have a close working relationship with law enforcement agencies and first responder agencies throughout the county," the statement reads.

 Just Monday, district officials met with representatives from every law enforcement agency in the county that has district locations within their jurisdiction to review our emergency procedures and capabilities and ensure clear communication, which is vitally important in responding to emergency situations. 

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Newtown, Connecticut. This is the kind of tragic event that shakes the very core of a community," said W. Burke Royster, superintendent. "Our feelings of sympathy are especially focused on those directly affected by today’s shooting:  the students, teachers, staff, administrators, and families of Sandy Hook Elementary School.  While all of us work diligently to prevent this type of tragedy and to prepare an effective response to all manner of possible events, we do so in the hope that our plans will never have to be utilized.”