I decided to take a different approach with my letter writing. What follows is my letter to the Cherry Creek School District Superintendent:

Ms. Mary Chesley
Superintendent
Cherry Creek School District
4700 South Yosemite St.
Greenwood Village, CO 80111

February 1, 2013

Subject: Security of my Children While in the Care of Cherry Creek Schools

Ms. Chesley,

Based on recent happenings both in Colorado and elsewhere, I have become convinced that the security provisions by the Cherry Creek School District are inadequate to provide for the safety and security for my three (3) children entrusted to CCSD each day. In fact, I believe the lack of armed and trained personnel in sufficient number to effectively respond to an attack on Cherry Creek Schools specifically exposes my children to being targeted by those seeking ‘soft targets.’

I noted with great interest that you met with law enforcement officials from Greenwood Village, Aurora, Cherry Hills Village and Arapahoe County on January 22, 2013. My letter is copied to each of those representatives as well. While acknowledging the good intent of all concerned, the simple facts are that law enforcement agencies have no legal duty to provide protective services, even of our children (reference to DeShaney vs Winnebago County and to Rivera vs City of Providence).

Recognizing that CCSD works within a framework of statutory compliance, such compliance cannot be an impediment to the common sense need to adequately protect our children. Such protections are not in-place today. CCSD’s ‘voice’ should be heard by the legislature insofar as future changes in legislation are concerned, but the safety of my children cannot wait for the legislative and political processes to address these issues. Steps need to be taken NOW.

With, or without, statutory authority, I urge CCSD to authorize teachers and staff to be allowed to carry firearms on campus, contingent on completion of adequate initial and ongoing firearm training. While a bold action by the District, nothing less offers a sufficiently broad and rapid ability to effectively respond to the sorts of threats seen in recent attacks. This approach seems to have worked well for some school districts in Texas and for our neighboring state of Utah, at least.

Mine is not an ill-informed or under-informed plea for CCSD to take action. Mine is a call for CCSD to take the bold actions necessary to provide for effective protection of my children, their classmates, their teachers and school administrators.

Sincerely,



xxxxxxxxxxxx

Cc:
Dan Oates, City of Aurora Chief of Police
Michelle Tovrea, Cherry Hills Village Police Chief
John A. Jackson, Greenwood Village Police Chief
Glenn Thompson, Patrol Command Captain Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office
I expect my letter to fall on deaf ears - but it was important to send it anyway. I wonder what effect it might have if only a few district superintendents took the bold step taken by the superintendent in Texas and authorized armed teachers on campus (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...-guns/1781663/). The obvious difference being that Texas law allowed a school district to make such authorization whereas it is not allowed under current Colorado law. Still, the simple fact remains that our children are not safe while at school and the local LE's are never going to be able to keep them safe. Parents should be demanding their school districts to 'step up' and insure safety - and do it NOW.

FWIW