Pottsville Area School District Superintendent Jeffrey S. Zwiebel said that Friday's mass school shooting in Newtown, Conn., in which 28 people died, is the "worst nightmare" any educator can face.
"(It's) absolutely horrifying what occurred," Zwiebel said about the killings at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Several Schuyl-kill County school superintendents contacted on Friday after the Connecticut shooting said it reminds them why they have increased security in their buildings and that both parents and the educational system need to help youngsters cope with the news.
"What a tragedy. I think there are kids who will probably be afraid," Blue Mountain's Robert Urzillo said. "They'll see it on TV. That will create fear."
Police said the gunman, identified as Adam Lanza, killed his mother at her home and then walked into the Sandy Hook school about 65 miles northeast of New York City, and shot 20 students and six other adults before committing suicide, according to police.
Each of the local superintendents said he did not make a general announcement to students about the shooting.
"We don't want anybody to get upset," Pine Grove Area's Brian T. Uplinger said. However, Uplinger said staff members were told and teachers had the option of telling their classes.
North Schuylkill's Andrew D. Smarkanic also said student sensibilities played a role in his not making any general announcement.
"You certainly don't want to frighten them," he said.
While Urzillo said "a handful of parents" picked up their children and took them home after hearing of the shootings, Smarkanic, Uplinger and Zwiebel each said he had not heard of any such pickups in their schools.
Security measures are present in each school district to try to prevent shootings such as the one in Connecticut.
Smarkanic said a Butler Township police officer is stationed at the junior/senior high school building in Fountain Springs, and that anyone entering the elementary school must go through the main office.
Buzzers must be rung to enter the buildings, he said.
Uplinger said security also is a high priority in his schools, and anyone who wants to enter one of them must ring a buzzer.
"We have monitors on every door, cameras in every building," he said. "We're very secure."
Also, Uplinger said, the schools practice active shooter drills so people would know how to react in case of such an event.
Zwiebel said Pottsville Area constantly evaluates security measures and already requires entry by buzzer, but will soon upgrade the already stringent measures.
"We're going to be adding key card access for staff," he said.
Urzillo said the school would help students cope with the tragedy if they need it.
"We have counselors available," he said.
Zwiebel said staff members were available Friday and will be available next week in all of the buildings for counseling, but that family members also must do their parts.
"It will be up to the parents to talk to their children," he said.
Smarkanic also said his schools will provide counselors if needed for students.
"I don't know how it's going to affect the kids," he said.
However, Smarkanic is certain that no one at Sandy Hook Elementary ever will forget Friday's awful event.
"It's something that's going to be devastating," he said. "How can anybody in our business feel good today?"