PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Superintendent Joseph Curtis postponed active intruder drills that were scheduled this week out of respect for those who were killed in a mass school shooting in Texas on Tuesday.

 

Nineteen children and two teachers lost their lives when an 18-year-old gunman opened fire on a fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.

 

An emotional School Committee on Wednesday called for gun control and mental health support. 

 

"The amount of courage that it took for our teachers and our kids and our parents to come to school today is miraculous," said Mayor Linda Tyer.

 

Chair William Cameron opened the meeting with a moment of silence for the victims and said the United States continues to slaughter its own children.

 

"I don't know what there is to say," he added. "Seems to me that there is no atrocity so great that the United States will stop people from committing it that it involves firearms."

 

Tyer emphasized the role that district leaders play in doing everything possible to keep its students safe because the nation has not done so.

 

"I'm without words, utter disbelief that we've had another school shooting and that young children have died and teachers have died and it's just really hard for me to, for my heart and my head to comprehend how the United States to still do nothing to solve this problem," she said.

 

The mayor said she had thought the 26 murders at Sandy Hook Elementary a decade ago would have been the moment to do something -- but she didn't this lastest school shooting would be the moment either.

 

"Our job as school committee leaders is to ensure that we are doing absolutely everything in our power to keep our schools safe, Mr. Curtis' message to families last night was heartfelt, it was reassuring because he outlined the things that we are doing now to keep our schools safe and our students and teachers safe."

 

Curtis' communication on Tuesday stated the scheduled to occur at Taconic, Herberg, Morningside, and Conte were rescheduled to early June.

 

"These drills provide our staff and students with the tools to make instantaneous decisions when faced with an intruder in one of our school buildings," he wrote, adding that the city has invested in school security and camera systems. "In the event that an intruder enters one of our buildings, these enterprise-level systems are instantly accessible by members of school and district leadership as well as to leaders in the Pittsfield Police Department (in the case of an emergency only)."

 

Students are encouraged to report suspicious activity they see or hear in the community, on social media, or within the schools. When these concerns are brought to the attention of school leaders, Curtis said the district can improve safety and respond to the needs of students.

 

"Please reach out to members of school leadership if your child is experiencing mental health symptoms such as increased worry, feelings of panic, sadness, and or concerning changes in eating and sleeping or if you have general concerns about a traumatic reaction as a result of today's tragedy in Texas," he added.

 

Curtis reminded families that mental health professionals are available to them and their children and listed adjustment counselor contacts.

 

A presentation on the superintendent's working group was tabled until the next meeting because Curtis was not present.

 

Committee member Alison McGee struggled through tears to voice her thoughts on the matter.

 

She said she'd seen a pattern since she was in high school and the shootings that killed 13 at Columbine High School happened: There is a cluster of attention that happens but it isn't consistent over time.

 

"I was reflecting with one of my fellow educators today about why it was so troubling and I think a concern that I have about all of our situations is that you hear often that an intervention has happened or an approach has been taken to address something and it's been successful and then we step back from it," she said. "I think it is really important especially as we're starting to examine our safety protocols, processes and general perspectives that we are making sure that those continue to drive forward."

 

Committee member Sara Hathaway said the next step is implementing background checks on the sale of firearms, or at least high-powered guns, and urged people to talk to their friends in conservative states or districts about supporting candidates who support background checks.

 

Similarly, committee member Mark Brazeau called for policy change on a national level and said there will never be enough mental health advocacy in schools.