Joint Statement: Texas School Shooting

Manchester School District, Mayor Joyce Craig, the Manchester Police and Fire Departments and AMR Ambulance issued the following joint statement in the wake of the mass shooting incident in Ubalde, Texas.

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

We are writing to you today, in one voice, in the wake of the senseless, brutal murder of 19 children and two adults in Uvalde, Texas. Unfortunately, this mass shooting is not an isolated incident, as it follows on the heels of mass shootings in communities big and small, including Buffalo, Milwaukee, Houston and Laguna Woods.

This is not okay. This is not normal. Each and every incident of gun violence is abhorrent – even one life lost is too many.

When a loved one heads to the grocery store, church or school, we should not have to wonder if we will see them again.

It is okay to feel scared, sad, angry or frustrated. Our schools should be safe spaces, where students have the resources and support they need to learn and grow.

Ensuring that our schools are safe requires the effort of not only the Manchester School District, but of the Manchester Police, Fire, and Health Departments, as well as external partners such as AMR Ambulance and our local hospitals. Together, we make up our School Safety Team, which prepares and trains, not just to respond to an incident such as this, but hopefully to prevent one from ever happening.

Our School Safety Team is mindful of the many end-of-year celebrations and events – we will be working behind the scenes to ensure these continue safely, and Police will have a more visible presence at our schools.

It’s likely that your student will have questions or concerns following this incident. If you are unsure how to approach that, we recommend reading these resources from the American Association of School Psychologists:

• Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers

• School Violence Prevention: Tips for Parents & Educators

In addition, counselors at your student’s school are trained to provide support in times like these. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need support approaching this topic with your student.

Sincerely,

Superintendent Jenn Gillis, Manchester School District
Mayor Joyce Craig
Chief Allen Aldenberg, Manchester Police Department
Chief Andre Parent, Manchester Fire Department
Regional Director Chris Stawasz, AMR Ambulance