Local Schools Respond to Texas School Shooting
By Cole Goodwin
CONTENT WARNING: This article contains information about gun violence.
Communities and School Districts across the nation are reeling from the tragic Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday, May 24th, 2022. Nineteen students (several aged 10 and under) and two teachers were killed in the shooting. The shooter also shot his grandmother, who has been hospitalized and remains in critical condition.
According to CNN it is the 30th shooting to occur at a K-12 school in 2022.
School shootings have returned to pre-COVID levels and (by some accounts) the rate of shootings have even increased. This most recent school shooting has devastated the small community of Uvalde, which is roughly the same size as The Dalles.
Schools throughout the Columbia River Gorge released statements today acknowledging the tragedy, and reminding parents, teachers, and staff of safety protocols.
Statistics from SandyHookPromise.org.
“D21 has been running lock down drills on a regular basis in our schools the last couple weeks,” said Stephanie Bowen, D21 Director of Communications and Community Engagement. “Practice is important, but even more importantly than that, running these drills helps staff identify where gaps in security may be.”
They have also invested in new security cameras across the district this year and have an eye on funding additional safety features with a new school bond.
“Improving school safety will be one of the key focus areas of the D21 School Bond Planning Committee,” said Bowen. “The focus of improving safety could look like limiting access points, and creating a more secure environment for students and staff.”
The Bond planning committee will meet for the first time on June 1st, 2022. At which time the committee member line up will be finalized. The meeting will be recorded and posted on the school district's YouTube channel.
Other lock down safety features available in D21 classrooms include quick draw window blinds, which were sewn by a local seamstress in The Dalles, and emergency ‘go-buckets' donated by Sodexo. The ‘go-buckets’ can act as emergency toilets for staff and students in the event of a lock down that lasts several hours. Each bucket has a toilet seat and lid. When not in use, each bucket holds emergency toilet paper and trauma first aid kits.
The shooting has had an impact on students in the gorge.
Schools around the gorge are also drawing attention to the emotional and mental health impact that school shootings can have on students and staff – even if they didn’t directly witness or experience the shooting.
The Dalles High School Counseling Team, Leanne Neal, Raquel MacSwain and Clara Hochstetler wanted to remind parents and staff that students may need extra support following the news of another school shooting.
“Students may experience a variety of emotions and mental health impacts as they process events and experiences regardless of their personal proximity to them,” said the TDHS Counseling team. “We encourage the adults in the lives of the students to be available and responsive to any questions or concerns that they may have. During the school day, we encourage students to talk with any staff including school counselors as the need arises.”
Statements on the Texas shooting from local schools
North Wasco County School District 21
“Yesterday’s events are a solemn reminder of the importance of these drills and the necessity of practicing them should any event or situation threaten the livelihood of our students, families, and staff.
Know that in the coming days, law enforcement agencies here and across the country will be on extremely high alert - along with every school in the nation. Above all else, we want our students to be safe, and feel safe, within our schools.”
-Dr. Carolyn Bernal, D21 Superintendent
Read the full statement here.
Dufur School District
“We will be meeting with local law enforcement during the upcoming summer break to ensure that we are doing everything possible to maximize the level of safety for all Dufur School students and staff.”
-Jack Henderson, Dufur School District Superintendent
Read the full statement here.
Hood River County School District:
“We are deeply saddened about yesterday’s shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Our hearts are broken for the students, families, and their community. We extend our sincerest sympathies to those individuals and families impacted by this tragic event.”
-Rich Polkinghorn, Superintendent Hood River County School District
Read the full statement here.
White Salmon Valley School District:
“All of our hearts are broken after hearing the news about the senseless shooting of 18 elementary children and three adults in Uvalde, TX yesterday.”
-Dr. Sean McGeeney, Superintendent White Salmon Valley School District.
Read the full statement here.
Lyle School District:
“This is a big problem, and we all must work together to reduce the proliferation of mass shootings in America.”
-Dr. Ann Varkados, Lyle School District Superintendent
Read the full statement here.
What you can do:
You can help stop school shootings.
School safety in America isn’t possible without supporters and volunteers.
Learn how you can take action to prevent future school shootings by clicking here.
Know the signs
Here is SandyHookPromise.org’s list of nine potential warning signs* that can signal an individual may be in crisis or need help:
1. Suddenly withdrawing from friends, family and activities (including online or via social media)
2. Bullying, especially if targeted towards differences in race, religion, gender or sexual orientation
3. Excessive irritability, lack of patience, or becoming angry quickly
4. Experiencing chronic loneliness or social isolation
5. Expressing persistent thoughts of harming themselves or someone else
6. Making direct threats toward a place, another person, or themselves
7. Bragging about access to guns or weapons
8. Recruiting accomplices or audiences for an attack
9. Directly expressing a threat as a plan
* NOTE: This isn’t a complete list of all warning signs. Exhibiting one of these signs doesn’t necessarily indicate imminent violence. When concerned about troubling behaviors, tell a trusted adult or call 911 if there is an immediate threat.
Grieve as a community.
The Gorge community has been invited to attend a meditation for collective grieving for the victims of violence in Uvalde, TX on May 25th at 8 p.m. at the Hood River Marina Beach.
More information about the Uvalde shooting:
The gunman, has been identified as Salvador Ramos, 18.
Ramos legally purchased the two AR-15’s he used in the shooting at a local sporting goods store for his 18th birthday.
On Tuesday, Ramos shot his grandmother before proceeding to the school, and barricading himself in a classroom where he started shooting.
Law enforcement engaged the suspect. Ramos was shot and killed at the scene of the crime.
For more information on the victims and sequence of events that occurred during the Robb Elementary School shooting click here.
The City of Uvalde and Robb Elementary school:
Uvalde is a town of about 15,000 people and is located 90 miles west of San Antonio.
Robb Elementary had 535 students at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.
Texas gun laws and gun culture:
Last year Texas Governor Greg Abbot signed new legislation into law that allows most Texans to buy a handgun without a permit or a state-issued license.
Most arms, including military-style weapons, can be owned in Texas.
The National Rifle Association will host its annual conference in Housten this weekend.
Click here for more information about Texas gun laws.
For state by state gun law information click here.
Statistics from SandyHookPromise.org.
Gun violence in America:
Statistics from SandyHookPromise.org:
Each day 12 children die from gun violence in America. Another 32 are shot and injured.
Guns are the leading cause of death among American children and teens. 1 out of 10 gun deaths are age 19 or younger.
Firearm deaths occur at a rate more than 5 times higher than drownings.
The U.S. has had 2,032 school shootings since 1970 and these numbers are increasing.
Alarmingly, 948 school shootings have taken place since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012.
Since the historic attack at Columbine High School in 1999, nearly 300,000 students have been on campus during a school shooting.
Click here for more gun violence statistics from SandyHookPromise.org.
