Columbia Public Schools offers advice, resources to help children cope after Texas elementary shooting
Watch a news conference from Uvalde, Texas, in the player above.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The head of Columbia Public Schools sent a message to families Wednesday with advice for helping children cope with the massacre of 19 elementary school children in Texas.
The district sent the email after Tuesday's massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The 18-year-old gunman also killed two adults at the school before dying.
"Your child may want to talk to you about his or her feelings," Superintendent Brian Yearwood wrote in the message. "Talking about feelings will help your child deal with this tragic event. Listen attentively. You may see behavior changes."
Behavior changes to look for include restlessness, trouble concentrating, sleeping problems, separation anxiety, questions asked repetitiously and remembering previous losses, Yearwood wrote. Yearwood included advice for talking with children about the shooting, including being sensitive to a child's questions and allowing children to talk about their feelings.
Those with concerns about their children's reactions can contact teachers, counselors or administrators at a child's school or use the resources at FACE of Boone County, Yearwood wrote.
Michelle Baumstark, spokesperson for Columbia Public Schools, says the school is currently evaluating its safety and security and looking at improvements.
Recent security upgrades include additional lighting in parking lots, video intercoms and electronic door locks or buzz-in systems for all school buildings. As well as the installation of additional security cameras.
The district also announced a proposal a few months back about adding secure vestibules, which are secured spaces with two or more sets of doors that only allows visitors access to one space in the building.
Baumstark said in an email this morning, "The key component to safety is to always be continually assessing and improving as things change and evolve. You must always remain ever vigilant.  In the coming days, we will learn more about what transpired in Texas and we will learn more about how to keep our schools, scholars and staff safe".
ABC 17 also tried reaching out to Ryan Burns, spokesperson for Jefferson City School District, to discuss its security within the district, but she still hasn't responded back.
The University of Missouri System said it also has counseling resources available for faculty and staff at its four campuses.
