AASA Issues Statement on Florida School Shooting
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
James Minichello
703-875-0723
703-774-6953 (cell)
jminichello@aasa.org
Nashville, Tenn. – Feb. 15, 2018 – Today, Daniel A. Domenech, executive
director of AASA,
The School Superintendents Association, provided the following statement in
response to the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in
Parkland, Fla.
“We are, once more, saddened and shocked by the
school shooting that occurred yesterday in a Broward County High School.
“According to the Washington Post we are averaging one school shooting per
week this year. Since 2000, there have been 130 shootings resulting in 250
student and teacher deaths. Subsequent to the Sandy Hook shooting, the AASA
Governing Board in July 2013 adopted a Position Paper on School Safety that
says: ‘If we hope to prevent future tragedies at schools, we must
comprehensively address both school safety and gun safety. Increased mental
health services, community supports for youth, and new attitudes about violence
in our entertainment must all be part of this approach. We must be willing to
spend the time and resources necessary to make sustainable changes. AASA
hopes that school leaders find ways of enhancing their current school safety
procedures as outlined above, but we know federal funding is critical to
ensuring schools remain the safest place for children to be.’
“Our
hearts and prayers go out to the victims in Parkland, Fla. as we continue to
push our elected officials to do what is right and necessary to stop this
senseless violence affecting our children and staff.”
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About AASA
AASA,
The School Superintendents Association, founded in 1865, is the professional
organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and
throughout the world. AASA’s mission is to support and develop effective school
system leaders who are dedicated to the highest quality public education for all
children. For more information, visit www.aasa.org.