GENESEO – Geneseo Central School Superintendent Tim Hayes released a statement to the school Thursday morning asking for thoughts and prayers for the victims of Wednesday’s school shooting in Florida, urging that something be done about guns, mental health and violence, and asking the public to speak up if they see something suspicious.
Hayes’ message to the school, which he later released to the public, is as follows:
My Dear Colleagues;
This morning my heart aches. This time for the school community of Marjory Stoneham Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. This time for 17 dead. This time for all of those students and staff in Parkland whose lives are forever changed and marked by this school shooting.
This morning my heart aches…and I am angry. Again.
This morning I am sending my most positive thoughts and healing prayers to those beautiful souls in Parkland. Those innocent children. Those remarkable and caring and heroic staff members. Some are saying these thoughts and prayers are hollow and meaningless. I vigorously disagree.
This morning I am also sending this message to all of you so that you may share it with our students. It is a message that I tweeted last night but I want to make sure that all of you see it. I want to make sure that all of our students hear it from the caring adults in their school world. The message is this:
Share this far and wide: One of the answers is this: “If you see something, say something.” Parents – you MUST have this conversation with your children. Social media posts are particularly key because they are often invisible to adults.
We must do something about the guns. We are compelled to act on this epidemic of violence. We must do something about access to quality mental health services. The lack of access to quality services and treatment for mental and behavioral illnesses in our country is beyond disgraceful. However, as grossly unfortunate as it is to state, these things will take time. Right now, we must care for our students. We must care for each other. And sending the message above allows us to do that. Together. Please send the message above to all of our students and abide by it yourselves.
Please know that you and your work are cherished and loved.
(Photo/Conrad Baker)