A string of shootings in schools across the country over the past couple of weeks are a sober and tragic reminder of what none of us wants to imagine could ever happen here.

Prompted, at least in part, by the tragedies in Nickel Mines, Pa. and Bailey, Colo., area school officials, emergency response teams and law enforcement tell us they're reviewing and revisiting the plans they have in place to prevent and handle such incidents.

But it's also occasion for parents, students and other residents to take note of security in the school buildings they frequent. For the most part, school officials indicated policies are in place to route visitors through main entrances of buildings, requiring check-in at the office.

No one wants to see our schools become total fortresses, with armed security guards patrolling hallways.

However, should you, as a visitor, find your way into a school building without the necessity to follow what officials have outlined as security protocol, you can silently wander the hallways and go about your business. Or, you can make the safety and security of every student and school staff member your business and call it to the attention of someone in authority. Fire off an e-mail to the superintendent; make a phone call to the principal; write a letter to a school board member.

Yes, it's true schools are still about the safest places our kids can be. The Michigan State Police Web site claims “Statistically, school is still one of the safest places our children can spend their time. However, by most estimates, 60 percent of all school-aged children polled, feel a Columbine type incident could happen at their school.”

Knowing a force of several thousand citizens is on watch can only add to the security our kids have a right to feel.

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