Seaside police host school safety symposium

Just days after a teacher accidently shot a gun inside a classroom Seaside Police are talked school safety at a Seaside Middle School symposium.

The meeting was planned long before the accident that’s got national attention now.

While they expected questions about the teacher incident they said the main goal is to ensure student safety.

Parents, law enforcement and school officials all hoping to work together to prevent tragedy.

“After the Parkland shooting and there were also some threats to high schools across the country and even Seaside High School,” said Chief Abdul D. Pridgen with the Seaside Police Department, “We wanted to make sure we had an opportunity to dialog with the citizens so they can understand what to expect from us.”

School district officials say maintaining a strong partnership with Seaside Police is critical, a message they tried to reassure parents with.

“We are working together as a team and really are committed to the student’s,” MPUSD Superintendent PK Diffenbaugh said, “And then hear concerns, hear questions.”

But the district is also now answering questions about what happened Tuesday inside a Seaside High School classroom when teacher Dennis Alexander accidently fired a gun.

“It’s an on-going investigation so I can’t say very much but we’re certainly going to reassure them about our protocols, reassure them about our policies and to talk at a high level,” Diffenbaugh said.

KION did learn this week that Alexander wasn’t supposed to have that gun on campus and school leaders and police say they remain focused on keeping kids safe.

“To engage the community, understand their concerns and really create greater trust and a greater working relationship,” Chief Pridgen said.

The conversation between Seaside Police and the community didn’t end Thursday.

The police chief says more forums like it will be planned throughout the city.