Dear Parents and Guardians,
Our hearts and prayers are with the families of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Today’s senseless shooting spree that killed at least 27 people, including 20 children, is not only heartbreaking but unconscionable.
We want you to know that the safety of our students and staff is the No. 1 priority of the Chandler Unified School District. Our commitment has included security fencing, with one-point of entry, and a requirement that all visitors check-in with our offices. Additionally, we are in the process of installing surveillance cameras at all of our schools and support buildings.
In partnerships with the Town of Gilbert and City of Chandler, we employ uniformed School Resource Officers, while the district also employs school Safety Officers. We meet with law enforcement officials monthly to review safety practices and routinely revise our crisis intervention plans for each school. Additionally, our campuses routinely practice lockdown drills that are evaluated and approved by our officers.
Most importantly, we are attempting to promote a culture where everyone has a responsibility to be vigilant and focused on safety. We ask that you talk with your children about the importance of sharing information that could be considered threatening to our community with a responsible adult.
In closing, we pledge to continue to make safety our No. 1 priority and to take any threat seriously. We are anxious to review lessons learned from today’s terrible tragedy so that we can continue to be proactive.
Please join me in prayer and positive thoughts to the entire community of Newtown, Connecticut.
Respectfully,
Camille Casteel, Ed. D
Superintendent
Dale Whiting posted at 4:02 am on Sat, Dec 15, 2012.
CC does it again! CHA!
bysj posted at 7:00 am on Sat, Dec 15, 2012.
I hope that she is sincere about about security being a #1 priority. Our children deserve a safe learning environment. In 2007 I spoke to her and the school principal regarding a problem with the security and a security contractor at one of the districts high school. She didn't even review my support but rather gave it to her assistant for review. The prinicipal was upset that I addressed the issue with Dr Casteel and took administrative action against me that was supported by her. The administration was more concerned with a faculty member speaking out about problems than addrerssing the security issue itself. Today, that principal is still at that school as well as Dr Casteel as district superintendent. The parents as well as the school board needs to take an active roll in insuring that administrators and faculty are doing what they are accountable for.
sockratties posted at 8:26 am on Sat, Dec 15, 2012.
bysj... Of course security of schools is an issue. In the case you're addressing, it's a shame the messenger wasn't better equipped to handle the job.
You need a lesson in workplace protocol. When you “go over the head” of your boss you can expect to be slapped down. That's just the way it is. You were implying that you didn't think your boss, the principal, could do the job, so you were elevating the issue. Blind-siding your boss is the surest way to make an enemy. If you had mentioned the issue to the principal earlier, that's even worse.
If you aren't a team player you are a loner. You made a choice which was the wrong one. There must have been a better option that would have escalated the issue without making your principal look bad.
bysj posted at 10:02 am on Sat, Dec 15, 2012.
sockrattles,
Without going into great details but just to clairfy to you I did take the issue first to my department chair who agreed with my concern but stated "I don't want to burn no bridges" and I did take the concern to the principal first. But nothing was done. As far as being a team player....I was and still am. It's to bad that a common problem is that some people make to many excuses to avoid accountability. You would probably have a different opinion of me if you knew all the facts.