On September 10, a student opened fire at Evergreen High School—wounding two classmates and turning the gun on himself. In just minutes, a place meant for learning became another site of tragedy. 

We are grateful for the swift response by law enforcement, but this can’t be our only line of defense. 

Evergreen High did not have a school resource officer present at the time of the shooting, and the lockdown drill scheduled earlier this year had been canceled. We need to ensure Evergreen has layered safety protocols and proactive support systems that can save lives.

We are calling on Jeffco Public Schools Superintendent Tracy Dorland and the Jeffco Board of Education to take immediate and concrete steps to protect every student, educator, and staff member in our district. That includes:

• Mental health support: Embedded school therapists and trauma-informed training for staff to help identify warning signs before crisis hits.
• School security upgrades: Metal detectors, secure entry systems, and increased visibility of trained school resource officers during the school day.
• Preparedness: Ensure every school follows through with regularly scheduled lockdown and safety drills.

We cannot wait for another tragedy to act. Columbine, East High, Arvada West—and now Evergreen. This is our community’s fourth school shooting in just a few years. 

No parent should have to tell their child to play dead to survive. No student should feel unsafe in the lunchroom. No teacher should fear opening their classroom door.

Jeffco Public Schools must lead with urgency, compassion, and courage. Our children’s safety depends on it.

Photo: RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post