Dear Rockingham County Schools Families,
First and foremost, we want to express my deepest condolences to the families affected by the recent tragic incident at Apalachee High School in Georgia. The shooting that occurred in Winder, GA is every educators' worst fear. The RCS community continues to pray for the Winder community.
At RCS we continuously strive to make our schools as safe as we can. We believe our best defense is for each one of us to keep safety at the forefront of all we do. In the coming weeks we will learn what we can from this incident and make any needed adjustments.
We understand the worries families have about the safety of your children while at school. The shooting at Apalachee was a random act of violence. While it is a challenge to predict or prevent such occurrences entirely, please know that we are committed to taking every possible measure to protect our students. Your child's safety is and always will be our top priority.
Over the past two years, RCS has implemented, improved and upgraded several safety and security components. Some of the key improvements we have made to our Rockingham County Schools’ Comprehensive Safety and Security Plan are: access control and monitoring; emergency preparedness and response; on-site safety personnel, resources and weapons detection systems; safety inspections and assessments; and student well-being and a healthy school culture.
Please know we remain committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive learning environment for all of our students. While no school district, community or public entity is immune from senseless acts of violence despite our best efforts, we can do much to mitigate the potential. We will continue to look for ways to protect our students and staff to the best of our ability. We ask for Your continued involvement and support to help ensure the security and well-being of our school community. Together, we can ensure a safe and positive learning experience.
Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education.
Sincerely,
Sean Gladieux
Director of Safety
Dr. Shawn Stover, III
Superintendent