The horrific incident last week in a small town New England elementary school reminds us all how fragile and uncertain our lives can be.

In an instant, the lives of so many were cut short.  The majority of these lost were the most innocent of children.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the lives lost, and to the families and friends of these innocent victims.

In the hours and days following, the entire country has wrestled with emotions.  Anger, fear and anxiety have become tangible after this recent tragedy.  Locally here in Osceola County, parents, police and school officials are all actively involved in working to keep our Osceola County students safe.  This was evident at every school, as well as discussions at Tuesday’s School Board meeting.  The “heightened awareness” among all involved should give Osceola residents the assurance that steps are being taken to keep our children as safe as can be.

This issue will continue to be front page news as the country wrestles with the how to best address the situation.  It is important to keep the focus on solutions.  If there was a simple answer to stop incidents like the one in Newtown, Conn., it would have already been implemented.  While evidence continues to be collected and theories on what lead to this tragedy surmised, we must keep the discussion on how to best prevent future situations.

The comments and statements from our local officials are encouraging.  More important, the willingness for all to work together will build the foundation for the best Osceola County strategy on keeping our schools as safe as they can be.  

We echo the comments of Superintendent Melba Luciano in an email she sent to district staff last week, stating “Our school district community is continuing to share disbelief and heartbreak over the tragedy that happened last Friday in Connecticut.”