Southwest Florida reacts to deadly Texas school shooting

Reporter: Marcello Cuadra Writer: Matthew Seaver
Published: Updated:
Texas School Shooting
People leave the Uvalde Civic Center following a shooting earlier in the day at Robb Elementary School, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (William Luther/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)

Tuesday’s deadly school shooting in Texas is the deadliest since the Parkland shooting in 2018.

After the Parkland shooting, Florida acted fast to make changes to improve school safety. The massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School sparked big changes in school safety.

In Lee County, doors are now locked from the inside and visitors have to show a photo ID before being allowed in a school.

The School District of Lee County Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier sent the following statement to families and staff on Tuesday after the shooting in Texas:

Dear SDLC Family,

It is with a heavy heart that my first communication to you, as Superintendent of Schools, is in regards to the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. There are no words to express the anger and heartbreak this has caused our school communities, and I mourn for Robb Elementary School. As a community, we pray for the families whose children were taken too soon. This heinous act of violence has no place in our society.

As Superintendent, my top priority is ensuring the safety of all students and employees. I will continue the work that has been done to safeguard our schools. I will use the power of the Superintendent’s Office to enhance our resources, prevention strategies, and response to violence.  

I know this news is difficult to process and will affect members of our School District of Lee County families, students and staff. In response, counselors are being made available. The death of any young person is devastating. School shootings are something that we, as a community, will not tolerate, and we must work together to ensure that each student and staff member is both safe and secure. 

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