The head of Minnesota’s largest teachers union calls the shooting attack on a Connecticut elementary school “vicious and shocking.”

Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher said for everyone who works in a school, Friday’s shooting in Newton, Conn., is “profoundly disturbing.”

Dooher said Minnesota teachers send their condolences to the victims and their families.

He said all Minnesota schools are required to have a crisis response plan, and he encouraged districts to review them. Dooher also encouraged Minnesota parents to take time to talk with their children about what happened.

 

Minn. schools told to look to emergency plans

Minnesota’s education commissioner is asking the state’s superintendents and principals to look at their emergency plans in the wake of the Connecticut school shooting.

Brenda Cassellius said staff and volunteers need to fully understand those plans.

The state education department has also sent guidance to schools on how faculty and staff can talk to students about what happened in Connecticut.