February 14, 2018
Media Contact:
- Heidi May Wilson, Senior Manager, Media Relations, 703-518-1242 or hmay@pta.org
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The following statement can be attributed to National PTA President Jim Accomando and Florida PTA President Cindy Gerhardt:
“National PTA and Florida PTA are deeply saddened to hear of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the students, families, educators and administrators impacted.
“This is the second school shooting just this month. It is urgent that families, educators, school administrators, community leaders and elected officials work together to find solutions and make meaningful changes to ensure that all students have a safe environment in which to thrive and learn.
“Any act of violence at a school or involving children and youth is intolerable. Every student deserves to learn and grow in a safe environment. And no parent should fear for the safety of their child every time they leave home for school.
“It remains a top priority of PTA to promote safety for children and youth and improve education. PTA has a strong history of supporting and advocating for policies in the areas of gun safety and violence prevention, juvenile justice, mental health and students’ overall well-being.
“PTA is committed to supporting students, families, schools and communities in coping with and preventing violence. The association offers a variety of resources that can be downloaded at PTA.org/SchoolSafety.”