ROCHESTER, NY (WROC) — Following Thursday’s shooting outside Rochester’s Franklin High School, News 8 reached out to RCSD’s Division of Student Support Services to continue to support students, staff and parents during this time. I learned more about the plan.
Surveillance footage of a gunman confronting a group of students outside Franklin High School last week was leaked, prompting police to say multiple shots were fired in their direction.
Fortunately, no one was injured.
Tamara Shepard is an RCSD social worker. In her more than a decade of experience there, she says relying on resources already in place is still critical.
“When I think of school, I think of it as a safe place for students. You can also work with your students on some of the fears and concerns that may arise,” Shepard said.
Every school in the district is assigned a building crisis management team that includes principals, teachers, social workers, psychologists and others, Sheppard said.
“We have to be able to come together as a community. It’s not just city school districts or Franklin. It’s the responsibility of the community as a whole to be able to say that this is not something we condone.” Shepard said.
RCSD alumni Madeline Funchess represents the Rochester chapter of Citizen Action of New York, a grassroots organization working for change.
“It’s our job to give kids the tools to succeed. They need us now more than they ever needed us,” Funches said. Yes, someone could have died. But the reality is that many children are dying and many are unable to go out because of their mental health. ”
Sheppard adds that the remote support team continues to work with the Franklin High School community and the entire school district.
“If you don’t accept it, if you don’t tolerate it, if you don’t make it the norm, then you have to show that you can move in a more positive direction. We need a village instead,” said Shepard.
Citizen Action of New York is also urging parents of RCSD to contact the Rochester chapter. For more information on the resources the group offers, please visit their website.
Neither the RCSD nor Rochester Police have identified a suspect in the incident. Investigation is ongoing.
