Administrators talk school safety

(WTNH) -- In the wake of Sandy Hook, school districts the state are focusing more attention on security than ever before.

School administrators from around the state met in Southington to map out the best ways to keep your little ones out of harm's way.

Since the Newtown tragedy we have all heard a lot of talk about teachers keeping weapons in their classrooms as a way to deal with a potentially violent intruder.

If you're wondering where school administrators here in Connecticut stand on the issue of arming teachers there is a common sentiment that teachers, schools and guns are a bad combination.

"A police officer was trained to work in schools, one of the things that was recommended against very strongly was arming teachers and principals because when it comes down to it is that you need to make sure the person who has that firearm knows how to use it in a school setting," said Joe Cirasuolo of CT Assoc. of Public School Superintendents.

The entire educational community has been especially touched by the tragedy in Newtown last month.

One administrator says she's been moved by the outpouring of love she seen from those outside of Connecticut.

"In the past couple of weeks, I've been in three different cities on business trips. I've experienced strangers in the airport come up to me and offer a hug and ask a question, they saw the flight was coming in from Connecticut and they stopped their progress to where ever they were going to and said hey, we just want to let you know our hearts go out to all of you in Connecticut," said Karissa Niehoff of CT Assoc. of Schools.

Administrators are focusing in on four key responses to the issue of school security: prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

Simply enough in concept, much tougher in terms of making it all work.

"Anyone who thinks there's one thing you can do that is going to solve the problem is making a mistake," said Cirasuolo.

And with Sandy Hook still fresh on all of our minds, administrators believe dealing more effectively with mental illness will also be a key factor in preventing future tragedies.

"The key again is as we've said this morning, it's a community, it's a collaborative effort on the part of all necessary people to provide ongoing resources and support," said Niehoff.

Clearly in these times this is a subject we will hear a great deal more about in the coming weeks and months as districts across the state and nation grabble with these critical issues.