On September 2, 2026, an armed individual forced his way into Westwood Hills Elementary School. A staff member was shot and injured, and the suspect was later found dead inside the school. While we are grateful no students were physically harmed and thankful for the quick response of school staff and law enforcement, this event has shaken our community and raised urgent questions that deserve direct answers.

As parents, we are requesting an in-person meeting with Superintendent Cassell, Assistant Superintendent Barber, and other relevant administration staff to address the following , for our children, and for the teachers and staff who were there with them:

1. Transparency on Security Measures

We want a clear, detailed account of what security measures have been reviewed or implemented since the shooting , including but not limited to: entry point controls, visitor screening, and lockdown procedures ,  and a realistic timeline for any further changes.

2. Door and Facility Security

We have concerns about doors not locking or securing properly. We are asking the district to directly address these concerns: what has been identified as faulty, what temporary measures are in place in the meantime, and a concrete plan and timeline for repair or replacement.

3. A Plan for Student Recovery

Our children need support processing what happened, whether or not they were at Westwood Hills that day. We are requesting a clear, written plan for how the district will help students recover and address trauma or PTSD symptoms stemming from this event, including how it will be communicated to families and staff.

4. Ongoing Mental Health and Counseling Support

We want detailed information on what additional mental health resources and counseling support — for both students and staff — will be made available in the coming weeks and months, how families can access them, and how the district will evaluate whether they are enough.

5. Real Support for Teachers and Staff

Teachers were present for this event and experienced it directly, alongside our children. Many are now being asked to help welcome students back — including hosting events like an "ice cream social" — without having first received tools, training, or support for processing their own experience, let alone guidance on how to recognize and respond to trauma symptoms in their students.

We are asking the district to specifically address:

What trauma-informed training and resources are being provided to teachers and staff before they are asked to lead student-facing recovery activities
What mental health support (counseling, leave, or other accommodations) is available to staff who were directly affected
How teachers are being equipped to identify and appropriately respond to signs of trauma or distress in students, rather than being left to manage this on their own
A clear timeline for when this training and support will be made available, given that back-to-school activities are already being planned
Our teachers cannot be expected to support traumatized students while navigating their own unaddressed trauma. Supporting staff is not separate from supporting our kids — it is a requirement for them in being able to be present and teach our children.

Why This Matters

Our children spend the majority of their waking hours in these schools. As parents, we deserve to understand — honestly and directly — how our schools are addressing both the physical security failures that put our kids at risk and the emotional toll this event has taken on them. We are not asking for blame. We are asking for partnership, transparency, and a real plan going forward.

We respectfully request a response and a scheduled meeting within 1 day of this petition's submission.

 Sign this petition to make Westwood Elementary a safer place for our children.

By signing below, I join the undersigned parents and guardians of Waynesboro Public Schools students in requesting this meeting and these commitments from district leadership.