| Dallas Schools are dedicated to providing the best | | | | parents and students. Each has been asked to be |
| education possible, while keeping the children safe. | | | | vigilant of anyone who enters school property, |
| Unfortunately, our world has changed in the past | | | | including buildings and sporting events. They are |
| few years. It is no longer as safe as it once was | | | | asked to report any suspicious activity or |
| to visit other countries, to fly from one city to | | | | concerns to the proper authorities or school |
| another (especially the truly large and/or | | | | personnel. |
| important cities, such as Washington D.C.), or to | | | | After 9/11, the Department of Homeland Security |
| even go to school, especially in a large | | | | in Washington D.C. implemented our current |
| metropolitan city like Dallas. Terrorists living within | | | | system of security awareness. A yellow alert |
| the borders of the United States have become a | | | | means the security threat is elevated, an orange |
| real threat. In Iraq, terrorists think nothing of | | | | alert means it is high, and a red alert (the highest) |
| bombing schools, so why would they restrain | | | | means it is severe. In the event of a red alert, |
| themselves here in America. This disregard of | | | | Dallas schools will monitor recommendations from |
| human life creates a heightened sense of fear, | | | | the federal, state and local law enforcement |
| especially for our children. Dallas schools are doing | | | | agencies. From these recommendations, they will |
| something about it. | | | | take the appropriate actions to ensure the safety |
| Ever since September 11, 2001, and the increase | | | | of the children. They will provide updated |
| in student shootings within some U.S. schools, | | | | information concerning their intended and taken |
| Dallas schools, under the Dallas Independent | | | | actions to parents and the community through |
| School District (DISD), have been instituting | | | | the local television stations, radio stations, and at |
| measures and programs to ensure they remain | | | | their web site. |
| security focused and safety aware. | | | | Dallas schools currently provide counselors to |
| While allowing children and school personnel to go | | | | assist children, who have any related fears or |
| about their daily lives in as normal fashion as | | | | anxieties. Additionally, all of the Dallas schools have |
| possible, Dallas Schools are maintaining a | | | | been asked by the DISD to carefully review their |
| heightened awareness of any suspicious activities | | | | campus level emergency plans, as well as the |
| in order to lessen the fears of the children while | | | | school board's emergency operations manual. |
| adding greater safety and protection for both the | | | | Dallas schools are putting the safety of your |
| children and school personnel. They have enlisted | | | | children at the top of their priority issues list. You |
| the help of every school employee - security | | | | can be assured that your child is able to focus on |
| officers, teachers, principals, administrators, | | | | each school day of learning within a safe and |
| custodial staff, and maintenance crews, as well as | | | | secure educational environment. |