Dear 91͵ÅÄ Staff and Parents,
The tragedy that occurred in a Florida school yesterday is both unimaginable and incomprehensible. There are no words or condolences that can adequately express our sorrow for families that were impacted by this tragedy. It’s understandable during these times to have a heightened sense of concern about the safety of our own students. We want you to know that there is not a day that goes by that members of our administration, campus administration, and teachers aren’t thinking about the welfare and security of our kids. We systematically conduct safety drills at every campus in 91͵ÅÄ. In addition, we have a close partnership with the McKinney Police Department, the McKinney Fire Department, and involve both in our emergency planning efforts. We have a comprehensive crisis response plan, perform regular security audits at every campus, and take ongoing steps to improve campus safety and security.
We know that in many cases, tragedies were preceded by warning signs. This is the reason we take potential threats so seriously and encourage students and parents to utilize the TIP411 program (www.mckinneyisd.net/safety-security/tip411/), monitor student social media, and report any potential threats to school staff and the McKinney Police Department. 91͵ÅÄ and the McKinney PD also invest in thirteen amazing School Resource Officers who are dedicated to building relationships with students, respond to potential issues, and proactively look for ways to improve student safety.
We know that it is impossible to prevent all bad things from happening, but we do want you to know that we are committed to doing everything we can to create the safest possible environment for students and staff. We encourage parents to review your child’s social media posts and online activity on a regular basis, engage in dialogue with your children about safety concerns, and notify the district and McKinney PD of potential threats or warning signs. We want you to know that we are constantly reviewing our safety procedures and looking for opportunities for improvement. We are blessed to live in a special community filled with caring parents, teachers, students and support staff. Student safety will continue to be our primary focus and we appreciate your partnership in these efforts.
Cody Cunningham
Chief Communications and Support Services Officer
McKinney Independent School District