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Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid expressed condolences to families affected by the Minneapolis school shooting and sought to reassure FCPS employees about security measures across the division.

In an Aug. 28 message, Reid acknowledged the grief and unease caused by news of the Minnesota attack, particularly among educators working to maintain safe learning environments. She called for compassion, healing and meaningful national change while emphasizing that communities are not powerless in responding to violence.

Reid said FCPS teams continually evaluate security protocols with local and national experts. Weapons-screening systems are in place at all middle and high schools, while additional safety and security personnel cover elementary schools.

The division’s other protections include panic-alert systems for staff, secured entrances, locked doors, intrusion alarms, electronic access controls and surveillance cameras. School resource officers and FCPS security personnel serve middle and high schools, with regional security personnel assigned to elementary campuses. Uniformed patrols operate around the clock.

Students and employees receive mandatory annual safety instruction. Schools conduct lockdown, fire and tornado drills, along with tabletop exercises and training on responses including securing buildings, sheltering in place, evacuation and “Run, Hide, Fight.”

FCPS also uses threat-assessment procedures, confidential tip services and enforced visitor-management rules. Crisis plans are maintained both division-wide and for individual schools, with emergency preparations coordinated alongside police, fire and emergency-management agencies.

Reid encouraged staff members to care for one another and thanked them for their commitment to FCPS students.