We appreciate that the schools and hospitals in our region are working hard to improve safety.

The Sun-Gazette discussed some of the steps being taken with leaders for an article in last Wednesday’s edition. We find the recognition of the importance of staff training to be reassuring. Everyone seems to recognize that it is a multi-faceted risk requiring multi-faceted solutions, which we also find reassuring.

But perhaps most importantly, we are reassured that it is a collaborative approach, including law enforcement and first responders.

UPMC of Northcentral Pa. has a campus police force. School districts are working closely with police and emergency services to be prepared for the worst possibilities. And to be adequately prepared for those possibilities, everyone should plan together and work together. Having a key entity out of the loop when disaster or tragedy strikes can have gruesomely magnifying consequences. Our leaders seem to be doing their best to prevent that.

Perhaps Jersey Shore Area School District Superintendent Brian Ulmer put it best:

“Together we can keep students as safe as possible.”