Death toll at Virginia Tech rises to 33, dozens more wounded.
(SALEM) - Oregon State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo released the following statement regarding the shootings on the Virginia Tech campus on Monday.
We are all shocked and saddened by the senseless outburst of violence on the campus of Virginia Tech. Our thoughts are with the students and the families of that community.
Given Oregon’s recent history with school shootings, events like today’s can create fear and anxiety for our students.
It continues to be important to focus on steps and procedures schools and districts currently have in place to address school safety.
I am very proud of the work that goes on everyday to ensure that students are safe at school, and the Oregon Department of Education strongly supports all efforts to create safe learning environments for all students.
The Oregon statutes listed below are important elements in these efforts:
ORS 339.356 requires all Oregon school districts to adopt policies on harassment, intimidation, and bullying.
ORS 339.312 encourages all Oregon school districts to form a safe school alliance composed of schools, law enforcement agencies, juvenile justice agencies and district attorneys to provide the safest school environment possible.
I encourage schools and districts to take time to review and update their existing policies and emergency plans.
It is also a good time to review with students and staff the appropriate actions to take when they have concerns about a fellow student or outsider on their campus.
See the other Salem-News.com reports on the Virginia Tech school shooting: April 17, 2007: Virginia Tech Launches Memorial Website to Honor Shooting Victims (VIDEO)April 17, 2007: Virginia Tech Gunman Identified (VIDEO)April 17, 2007: Victims, Gunman Names Coming Out from Massacre at Virginia TechApril 17, 2007: Memorial Fund Established in Wake of Virginia Tech MassacreApril 17, 2007: Governor Orders Flags at Half-Staff in Memory of Virginia Tech TragedyApril 17, 2007: Massacre at Virginia Tech Leaves 33 DeadApril 16, 2007: Oregon Universities to Offer Counseling in Wake of Virginia Tech ShootingsApril 16, 2007: State Schools Superintendent Issues Statement on Virginia Tech ShootingsApril 16, 2007: Death Count at Virginia Tech rises to 33 Including GunmanApril 16, 2007: Death Toll Rises to 32 in Virginia Tech Campus ShootingsApril 16, 2007: Virginia Tech Campus Shootings Leave 22 Dead; Gunman KilledApril 16, 2007: Police Report Multiple Fatalities in Virginia School Shooting
State Schools Superintendent Issues Statement on Virginia Tech ShootingsSalem-News.com