CH-UH Schools Respond to Chardon Shooting

The Cleveland Heights-University Heights is sending an e-mail to parents about the Chardon High School shooting that occurred this morning.

Details about the shooting are still murky, but the latest information from WKYC News reports that four students were injured and one student was killed in the incident and that one gunman is in custody.

"Unfortunately, no district can fully prepare for such unthinkable acts. Since some parents have asked, please know that the CH-UH School District is as prepared as possible. Students in all of our schools practiced lockdown drills earlier this school year under the guidance of administrators and security staff," Heuer wrote.

Read the full text of the note below, and watch coverage of the #ChardonShoooting on Twitter and at WKYC's website. And please tell us, how do you explain these kinds of events to your children? What's the best way to discuss such a scary, devastating event?

Dear Parents,

We continue to follow the horrible shooting incident at Chardon High School this morning and our thoughts are with the injured students, their families and that community. 

Unfortunately, no district can fully prepare for such unthinkable acts. Since some parents have asked, please know that the CH-UH School District is as prepared as possible. Students in all of our schools practiced lockdown drills earlier this school year under the guidance of administrators and security staff. These drills are practiced twice a year at each school building. Our crisis management team regularly reviews our security and emergency procedures. We have and use multiple methods with which to communicate effectively and quickly with parents and the community, including our automated call system, text alerts, email, social media, our web site, and local news media.  Our procedures are reviewed and updated continually in keeping with law enforcement's best practices for handling these types of situations.

Meanwhile, please keep the students and families in Chardon are in your thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,

Doug Heuer, Superintendent
Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District