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Granite Falls board member urges community discussion on school safety after Minneapolis shooting
Summary
Director Carey told the Granite Falls School District board that a shooting at a Minneapolis school that killed children shows "no level of protection can fully stop a person intent on harm," and urged the district and community to define acceptable levels of security and pursue them together.
Director Carey, a member of the Granite Falls School District Board of Directors, used board comments at the start of the meeting to urge a community conversation about school safety after a school shooting in Minneapolis that she said killed two children and injured others. "No level of protection can fully stop a person intent on harm from simply firing into a building," Carey said, and asked the district and community to decide what level of security they are willing to provide.
Carey said the issue should be discussed outside partisan debate and should focus on practical choices the district can make, including securing entry points, refining safety drills, hardening school design and strengthening partnerships with law enforcement and first responders. "We all want our children to be educated in a safe and loving environment," she said, adding that the district should also consider expanding mental-health services and be transparent about the costs of safety measures.
Board member Director Kincaid echoed sympathy for families affected by the Minneapolis shooting and praised local efforts to make Granite Falls schools safer, including work with the sheriff's office. The board did not take any formal action at the meeting to adopt new safety policy or immediate changes; Carey framed her remarks as a request to begin community conversation and planning.
The board's discussion noted that some security steps — such as locked doors, cameras or drills — have limits. Carey said the district should confront that reality and then decide what further steps it will implement. She asked the community to discuss the question "What level of security are we comfortable with?" and to follow up with concrete recommendations the board and administration can act on.
The topic was raised during the board comment portion of the meeting and did not include a motion or vote. The board did not specify next steps or schedule a special meeting on the topic during the session.
