Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Westminster schools schedule tabletop drill and distribute gun-violence guidance after Evergreen shooting
Loading...
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Gatto said Westminster Public Schools will hold a postponed tabletop safety drill on Thursday and will provide families with gun-violence prevention materials after the recent shooting at Evergreen High School.
Dr. Gatto, superintendent of Westminster Public Schools, told the board Tuesday that the district is proceeding with a tabletop safety drill scheduled for Thursday and will distribute gun-violence prevention materials to families after the recent shooting at Evergreen High School. “Safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority,” Dr. Gatto said.
The superintendent said WPS paused an initially scheduled tabletop exercise immediately after the shooting to allow school resource officers and principals to be present at their schools “when it was needed most.” He said the district is following guidance from the Colorado Legislature and referenced “House Bill 25 12 50,” noting the district will make materials about safe storage, Colorado firearm laws and mental-health resources available to students, parents and guardians at the start of the school year.
Dr. Gatto credited prior training and the response of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at Evergreen for helping “prevent further harm and potentially saving lives,” and called that outcome a reminder of the importance of preparation. “This is always difficult and an emotional topic, but I believe it’s important to keep everyone in the loop,” he said.
The superintendent also described outreach and education elements that will accompany the fact sheet, including links for parents on how to talk with children about guns and where to find mental health supports. The board did not take any formal vote on the safety drill or the materials; the items were reported as district actions and planned communications.
Board members in subsequent comments emphasized mental-health supports and the district’s processes for responding to crises. Board member Erin (last name not specified in the record) thanked staff for the district’s mental-health work and said those programs are “super important and super beneficial to our community.”
The district did not specify the exact contents of the fact sheet beyond the topics described, nor did the board give a formal resolution or change to policy during the meeting. Dr. Gatto indicated the tabletop drill will proceed as planned on Thursday and that the fact sheet will be emailed to families and posted on the district website.
