Schools across the state are increasing security today after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown on Friday morning.
The city of Danbury, which is located near Newtown, is tapping into its overtime budget to add police officers to patrol every school.
In Waterford, police are out at every school in town and school administrators will meet with the chief of police on Monday, according to a Tweet and Facebook post from Waterford police.
Glastonbury police and the schools are working together and plan to conduct multiple lockdown drills throughout the year.
At Pomperaug Regional School District 15, pedestrian traffic will have to access the building from the main entrance at each school, all visitors will report to the office and must remain in the main office area, visitors must leave any delivered items in the office and they will be delivered to the appropriate classroom and parents requiring access to the school nurse will be escorted by a staff member or the nurse will bring the child to the office area.
If personal delivery is required, the appropriate staff member or child will be located and that person will go to the office area.
On Friday, New Haven schools posted on its Web site that Police Chief Dean Esserman has stationed a police officer at every school and additional officers in the area of schools. New Haven schools are also offering counseling services to students and families.
“As students returned to school today and we begin the difficult task of healing after the Sandy Hook tragedy, I want to reassure parents that their children are safe and well-cared for,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Reginald Mayo. “We have tightened security at all of our schools and have counseling available to any child who needs it. I commend our teachers, principals and school staff for embracing this difficult day with courage and grace and for helping their students heal and stay focused on learning.”
In Monroe, which is located near Newtown, a police officer will be present in all schools in town to reassure staff and students.
"There are security plans in place at all schools in Connecticut, but certainly they’ll be ratcheted up just a little bit for everyone’s safety and security," Lt. Paul Vance, of Connecticut State Police, said.
