Message from Superintendent Koligian on School Safety
Dear Folsom Cordova families, employees, and community members:
As a parent of four children I understand the challenging emotions many of you may have felt when you sent your child off to school today. We all grieve and struggle to comprehend the senseless and tragic acts of violence like what happened yesterday in Parkland, Florida, no matter how far away.
There is no greater trust you place in us than to keep your children safe so they can learn, and I and your school leaders will continue to do everything in our power to uphold our responsibility.
That includes working proactively and in collaboration with our law enforcement partners in Rancho Cordova and Folsom to identify and respond to potential threats swiftly. We are grateful that our law enforcement agencies provide sworn officers dedicated to maintaining a regular and active presence on our school sites. That also includes working together to coordinate our regular active shooter drills, and developing and reviewing our school site safety plans to help us prepare for emergencies of all kinds. We will continue to regularly review all measures to ensure they meet the needs of our schools.
Being proactive also means providing mental health and emotional support for any student in crisis. Our trained professionals develop trusting relationships with our students and school communities and will continue to be available during this difficult time. Regardless of your role, I encourage you to do what you can to create a safe space for children to express their thoughts and feelings. The National Association of School Psychologists offers these tips, helpful for both educators and families alike, when talking about violence.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to your school with any questions or concerns about safety preparation or planning. And always report any suspicious or concerning activities or behavior to a school or district employee - or to local police. I am grateful for your ongoing partnership to ensure a physically and emotionally safe environment for everyone in our school communities.
Sincerely,
Superintendent Sarah Koligian, Ed.D.