10-16-26

Dear Lockport Families and Community Members,

The recent school shooting in Bend, Oregon, is a heartbreaking reminder of the importance of keeping our schools safe. Our thoughts are with the students, families, educators, and community members affected by this tragedy.

We understand that incidents such as this can raise concerns for parents, guardians, students, and staff. As parents and caregivers, one of your greatest concerns is knowing that your children are safe while at school. Please know that the Lockport City School District takes this responsibility seriously. We will do everything within our ability to protect the health, safety, and well-being of our students and staff while providing schools where every student feels safe, supported, and valued.

At the Lockport City School District, we work every day to maintain safe, supportive, and welcoming learning environments. We use multiple layers of protection, prevention, and support throughout our schools. These include video surveillance, school security monitoring, collaboration with our School Resource Officers (SROs) and local law enforcement, and established reporting procedures to help ensure that concerns are brought to the attention of the appropriate personnel.

School safety is about more than physical security. It is also about relationships, connection, and the social and emotional well-being of our students.

Across our District, students have access to school counselors, social workers, psychologists, administrators, peer mediators, and other student support personnel who help them navigate challenges, manage conflict, and access assistance when they need it. These individuals play an important role in helping students feel connected to their school and building trusting relationships with adults who can provide guidance and support.

We want every student to know that they have someone they can turn to when they are struggling, concerned about a classmate, or unsure how to handle a difficult situation. We encourage students to speak with a trusted adult when something doesn't feel right and to understand that asking for help is a sign of strength. We also recognize the importance of identifying concerns early and connecting students with appropriate support before challenges become more serious.

In response to recent events, our administrators and staff are reinforcing established safety procedures, continuing required emergency drills, and reviewing expectations for reporting concerns. We also continue to work with our public safety partners to strengthen preparedness and ensure that appropriate procedures are followed when concerns arise.

Families are important partners in maintaining safe schools. We encourage parents and guardians to have open, age-appropriate conversations with their children about safety, responsible communication, and the importance of reporting concerns. If your child shares information about a potential threat, threatening behavior, or another safety concern, please contact your child's school so that the information can be reviewed and addressed appropriately. For an immediate threat to someone's safety, please contact 911.

We also recognize that tragedies like this can affect students differently. Some children may have questions, feel anxious, or need reassurance, even when an event occurs far from our community. We encourage families to listen to their children, acknowledge their feelings, limit exposure to distressing news when appropriate, and remind them that trusted adults are available to help. Our school-based support teams are available to assist students who may need additional support.

We are committed to keeping our families informed about our ongoing school safety efforts. At the same time, some details of our security procedures must be handled carefully to ensure that those measures remain effective. What we want our families to know is that safety is not something we address only when a tragedy occurs. It is an ongoing responsibility that requires daily attention, preparation, communication, and partnership.

We know that trust is built through our actions and our continued commitment to students and families. We will continue to review our practices, listen to concerns, respond when issues are brought to our attention, and do all that we can to protect the health and safety of the people in our schools.

Thank you for your continued trust, partnership, and support. Together, we can help ensure that our schools remain places where students feel safe, connected, supported, and ready to learn.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mathis Calvin III
Superintendent of Schools
Lockport City School District