Toenjes: Kyrene Superintendent's  September message, school safety

Courtesy Kyrene School District

It is amazing how quickly we’ve reached this point in the school year — two months in and just two weeks away from fall break. 

Since the start of the school year, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting many campuses, and it’s inspiring to see how our students have settled into their rhythms — engaged, curious and eager to learn. 

One of these visits was to C.I. Waggoner last week to join them in honoring the lives lost and heroism shown by first responders on Sept. 11.  It was so moving to see students from across Kyrene paying tribute to these heroes, whether through assemblies, classroom discussions, or moments of silence. 

These recognitions serve as a reminder of the important values of courage, service, and community that we aim to instill in our students.

Safety and security in Kyrene

Over the past few days and weeks, schools across the country have been addressing concerns about rumors circulating on social media regarding potential threats to campuses and communities. 

I understand how deeply unsettling these situations can be for our students, our staff and our families. 

I want to reiterate Kyrene’s unwavering commitment to the safety and security of our schools and the importance of this shared responsibility.

It takes the dedication of all employees, strong partnerships with emergency responders and the support of our families and community to keep our schools safe. 

We urge families to remind students of the importance of responsible online behavior and to practice this behavior ourselves. 

Law enforcement agencies repeatedly stress: Report. Don’t Repost. 

If you see something concerning, it is always more helpful to report those concerns to police or to your school, rather than spreading them online.

We take every potential threat seriously to ensure the safety and security of our schools, and unsubstantiated rumors can cause unnecessary disruptions to our learning environments. 

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our community safe.