The School Board and I are deeply troubled by the tragic news from Aztec, New Mexico. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. We are keeping the students, parents, staff, and the entire Aztec community in our thoughts and prayers. We want to also acknowledge and appreciate the quick actions of the school staff and first responders in Aztec.

While school shootings are rare, we do have to prepare for the possibility. All eight Los Alamos schools are in the process of updating their safety plans and conducting trainings to educate staff and students about how to respond to an active shooter or other safety threat. We have adopted and been trained on a standard response protocol for Lock Down, Lock Out, Evacuate, and Shelter in Place. Additional training is ongoing. 

These incidents often raise questions about the need for mental health services. The implementation of the LAPS Healthy Schools Initiative in partnership with community providers and Los Alamos County has strengthened our ability to support LAPS staff and students. Counselors are available in each of our schools should anyone be experiencing feelings of sadness, worry, or confusion and would like extra support.

This is a time for all of us to reach out and lend a helping hand to each other. We will keep you informed about any scholarship funds that may be established in memory of the Aztec students.