Reg Douglas, Towanda Borough Police patrolman assigned to the Towanda Area School District, stands outside the high school on Monday, Dec. 17, 2012, in Towanda, Pa. Douglas is being scheduled to work more hours after the Connecticut school shooting on Friday. (AP Photo/The Daily Review, Tim Zyla)
School departments in Westfield and Southwick took steps to ensure students and parents that safety measures were in place yesterday.
In Southwick, there was a police presence at schools.
Selectwoman Tracy Cesan thanked the police department for being on hand to make students feel safer as they returned to school following the tragedy in nearby Newtown, Conn. last Friday.
“My daughter is at the high school and the children were comforted by the police officers present,” Cesan said. “I commend the police department for actively supporting our student body.”
Chairman Arthur Pinell asked the board to send a letter of support to Newtown during last night’s Board of Selectmen meeting, then asked for a moment of silence.
Pinell said the selectmen’s office was in touch with Superintendent John Barry throughout the day and assured everyone that the district was reacting by reassessing its safety measures.
“The school department is not leaving any stone unturned as far as evaluating the schools,” said Pinell. “It will be ongoing.”
Pinell offered heartfedlt sympathy to the Newtown community.
“I hope for the best for the citizens of Newtown,” he said.
Westfield Schools Superintendent Suzanne Scallion met with administrators first thing yesterday morning to discuss how to approach the student population.
“Most of all we wanted to prepare for the emotional and psychological concerns,” Scallion said.
Every school has a crisis team, as does the district. Scallion said every team was at the ready yesterday. However, students seemed to deal with the tragic events as well as they could.
“It went very smoothly,” she said.
Scallion said getting children back into their routine was a priority.
“I think that’s the best thing we can do,” she said.
