District continues safety efforts in wake of Newtown shooting

Superintendent Robert Kish said the Pennridge School District will “continue doing what it’s supposed to be doing” following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn., last month.

Kish said that he, along with other school officials, are focusing on more oversight and mak- ing sure doors stay locked.

The district has not asked for more consistent police patrolling, as some other school districts have requested, though Pennridge is in touch with the local police on a regular basis.

Kish said the district’s strong point was having a positive and strong relationship with the local police.

“I have Chief Mettin’s number on speed dial,” Kish said, referring to Pennridge Regional Police Chief David Mettin. “We are in touch when we need to be.”

When Pennridge opened Monday, Dec. 17, the first school day following the shooting in Connecticut, Kish said there were police cars at the high school, which had a mixed reaction from the community. Some were glad to see the police, while others wondered whether something terrible had happened, Kish said.

“Whatever you do, there’s going to be some sort of reaction,” he said.

NRA CEO and Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre said in a news conference Dec. 21 that armed officers should be used to protect schools. Kish, who served in the army and was a crew member of the blockade involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis, said he thought the suggestion was “terrible.”

A friend of Kish’s is a retired policeman at an alternative public school with kids who often misbehave. According to Kish, his friend said the last thing he wanted was guns in school buildings, as well.

“I think the more guns, the more danger there is,” Kish said. “More guns means more opportunities for abuse.”