Baltimore area schools are responding after hearing about the devastating school shooting that happened in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday.
RELATED: Florida high school mass shooting: 17 dead, ex-student arrested
Anne Arundel Schools announced on Facebook that there will be additional officers at schools today. They wanted to empathize there is no threat to any school.
Anne Arundel Police released the following statement regarding the increased presence:
Whenever there is a major story or incident at a school in the United States we routinely have a presence at the schools to help the students and parents feel safe. There may be a presence at some of the schools during dismissal as well.
Baltimore City schools also sent the following statement about the tragedy and what they are doing to keep students safe:
On behalf of Baltimore City Public Schools, I extend our deepest sympathy to the victims and families of those injured and killed yesterday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Our hearts are heavy with grief at this horrifying act of violence, and we are holding the students, staff, families, and community of Broward County Public Schools in our thoughts and prayers.
Schools must be places where students and staff know they are safe, where parents and caregivers can send their children every morning with confidence that they will return whole and well every afternoon. Our commitment to our students means doing everything in our power to keep violence outside of our school doors. Our commitment to our society must also include working together to stop these events from occurring.
-- Sonja Brookins Santelises, CEO, Baltimore City Public Schools
In wake of the shooting, the Baltimore Teacher's Union shared their condolences as well as called on officials for gun safety training:
Our hearts are broken, yet again, by the school shooting that occurred yesterday at Majory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida yesterday. This tragedy effects all school communities across the nation and here in Maryland as educators begin to think about their safety and the safety of the children they teach every day.
While the BTU does not agree with the legislation that Del. Rick Impallaria has introduced that will allow certain school employees to carry guns in schools, we do believe that our educators, school administrators, staff and students should receive training on what to do if a shooter enters the school. We urge our legislatures here in Baltimore and Annapolis to pass legislation that makes this training a requirement. Training will equip all those in schools with the necessary directions and tools they will need in order to survive if such an event should happen in Baltimore City Schools
SEE ALSO: MD Delegate: House Bill 760 could make MD schools safer
