Following the deadly school shooting in Newtown, CT, Florida Governor Rick Scott is calling on school leaders in the state to review and enhance their school districts emergency plans. With his suit jacket off, sitting in his office at the capitol, a more relaxed Scott was reflective.
“I think of my daughter who was a school teacher, my sister in law was a school teacher, my brother was a principal and where they could have been my sister was a school nurse.”
Scott says he hopes a shooting massacre like the one at Sandy Hook Elementary School will never happen in Florida.
“I sent out a note today to all the schools to make sure they look at all their security measures. And make sure their parents are comfortable, you just can’t imagine. You know you stop and think about things.”
Scott says for now, he’s staying away from heavy policy discussions about gun control and just wants to focus on the grieving families in Newtown.
“Right now, what the conversation ought to be about is mourning for each of these family members and I think there will be an appropriate time to talk about two issues, the violence that we have and mental illness.”
Scott sent a letter Monday to school leaders around the state asking them to review and enhance their district’s emergency plans. Scott says school should be a sanctuary for learning and creativity where students, teachers and parents feel safe.