To the Editor:

When you talk about protecting our youths, the discussion should involve not only the school district but the police and fire departments and other local first-responders. You must invite leaders from the community to the discussion table.

Today, the high schools and middle schools in U-46 have a police officer stationed in them during school hours. I think with the support of the local police officers we need to consider having a police officer at or near all schools in the district, including the elementary and preschools. Perhaps where there are several schools close together, an officer on patrol could be always in the immediate vicinity of the school and checking in with an administrator within the school regularly.