School Safey

We believe a caring safe school community is paramount.

 RSU 2 schools have strong positive track records of being safe, welcoming environments. The caring nature of our staff, families and neighbors are critical components to this success.

 Our RSU administrative team has been leading a focus on social emotional support for our students throughout this difficult year.  In addition, a review and update of our school safety plans with the local Emergency Management Agency has already been underway this year.  Included in the process is a series of meetings with experts.  

Given the recent elementary incident with a weapon brought to school, we continue this work with a new perspective.  While many Maine families are active outdoor enthusiasts with weapons at home, it goes without saying that we need to pull together to help avoid situations such as this in the future.  The Richmond students, staff, guidance counselors, social workers, and administrators responded admirably to the situation; using all the best elements of previous training and preparedness. Follow up includes debriefing, implementing supports, and initiating prevention education since the incident.  Whole class processing, learning, and support sessions, as well as supports for individual students, are being implemented.

Throughout RSU 2, we will strive to improve positive interventions, school-wide expectations, how to teach kids to quickly and safely report under the “see something, say something” approach, review of our mental health systems of support, and consider other safety measures.

Here are some resources for families: 

How to Talk to Your Children About School Safety

https://youthfirstinc.org/how-to-talk-to-your-children-about-school-safety/

How to Talk to Your Kids About Gun Safety – 6 min video

https://projectchildsafe.org/talking-to-kids/

NAMI Maine’s Helpline

https://www.namimaine.org/helpline 

Thank you for your understanding, helping with prevention, and showing respect for the privacy of those closest to difficult situations like these.