Dr. Semmel's Monthly Update

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• Cost to taxpayers: $82,580,000 representing a one-time 44% reimbursement of eligible expenses from the State of Connecticut

• Total cost: $142,375,000.

Full version of explanatory text

I recently received a communication for families authored by Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker from the Department of Education, Commissioner Ronnell Higgins from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont regarding the recent school threats. They end the letter with the following ways families can help keep schools safe:

• Be aware of your child’s online activities and the social media and gaming platforms they use.
• Discuss with your child the seriousness of threats to schools, emphasizing that they are not harmless jokes. Such threats and false reports can cause fear and lead to serious legal consequences, including arrest.
• Don’t allow your child to bring toy guns or other pretend weapons to school as they may be seen as real, frighten others, cause disruption of the school day, and lead to discipline for your child, including suspension and expulsion.
• Monitor the personal information your child shares online, as it can be misused by strangers on the internet and gaming platforms.
• Encourage your child to report any threats or threatening behavior they see to local police or the school.
• Set a good example on social media, as children learn from adults how to behave online. Don’t repost threats that you see on social media; instead notify the police.
• Connecticut law requires that, if you have guns in your home, they must be stored in locked containers so that children cannot access them.

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