In light of the school shooting last Wednesday in Parkland, Florida, every school is pausing to reflect on the safety of their own community.

Florida is the eighth school shooting in 2018 to result in death or injury. No one knows what the answer is to ending school shootings, but everyone agrees that the safety of our nation’s children is the top priority.

St. Dominic does not only educate students, but it advocates for their safety. There is not any way to prepare for a school shooter, but we, as a community, will take necessary precautions to protect our students.

“We always want to act in the best interest of the students. It’s really just a matter of fact if… we can be the best prepared that we can,” said President Jim Welby.

In the next few weeks, St. Dominic will conduct an intruder drill to make sure the students and staff are as prepared as possible for a potential threat.

“Every situation and scenario is going to be different. The key is having enough things in place that people feel comfortable to protect students and student life… I guarantee there isn’t a school in the country who isn’t sitting there today or was last Thursday going… ‘What if that had happened to us? How could we respond?’” said President Welby.

As a school community, we will work to provide for the safety of our students. The tragedies like Parkland, Sandy Hook and Columbine must push the nation to create safer schools.