Here Browser Title - California Teachers Association:

State Schools Chief, Other Education Leaders Write President on School Safety

CONTACT: Paul Hefner - 916-319-0818

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, joined by key education leaders in California, today sent the following letter to President Obama in the wake of last week’s deadly school shootings in Connecticut.

December 17, 2012
The President
The White House
Washington, DC  20500

Dear Mr. President:

Education leaders across California—home to more than 6 million schoolchildren—share your and the nation’s grief in the aftermath of the shooting in Newtown. Our schools must be safe havens for students and teachers, and last week’s tragedy is deeply disturbing to all of us who have made the care of children our life’s work.

Our state Department of Education and Emergency Management Agency jointly asked California’s schools last week to immediately begin reviewing their safety policies, and they are doing so. And in schools across California today, teachers, administrators, and classified employees are reassuring students and parents that our schools remain safe places for students to be. In addition to these important steps, we are also prepared to heed your call for a wider national conversation about school safety.

We speak for our students, teachers, administrators, parents, and all Californians when we say this violence against our children must stop.

Sincerely,

Tom Torlakson
State Superintendent of Public Instruction

David A. Gomez
President, Association of California School Administrators

Josh Pechthault
President, California Federation of Teachers

Carol Kocivar
President, California State PTA

Dean E. Vogel
President, California Teachers Association

Allan Clark
President, California School Employees Association

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The California Department of Education (CDE) is a state agency led by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. For more information, please visit http://www.cde.ca.gov or by mobile device at http://m.cde.ca.gov/. You may also follow Superintendent Torlakson on Twitter athttp://www.twitter.com/TorlaksonSSPI and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CAEducation. 

California Department of Education, Communications Division
1430 N Street, Suite 5602, Sacramento, CA 95814
Main: 916-319-0818; Fax: 916-319-0100
E-Mail: communications@cde.ca.gov; URL: www.cde.ca.gov/nr/