Message From Head of Schools, Jerry Riggs, on the recent events in Tennessee.
Dear Parents, 3/28/23
Where do I even begin when it comes to communicating with you about the school shooting yesterday in Nashville, Tennessee? First and foremost, I would tell you this is a time for all of us to pray for those families who lost children yesterday in this horrific act of cowardness. I don’t care if it was a man or a woman or whoever it was, there is a special place in hell for this person. Tomorrow morning at 6am (2/29/23), I will be on my knees in our church next to our school. If any of you would like to join me for a brief 30 minutes, you are more than welcome. Immediately last night, I scheduled a mandatory faculty meeting this week with both our school and ELC faculty to go over our safety plan and procedures. We’ve had a plan in place and it’s a good plan. If you remember last year I advised you through an email of all the improvements that were made on our campus entering and exiting the buildings. I also advised you that I would not give you detail plans because I did not want the possibility of this email ever falling into the wrong hands that would use it against us. It is sufficient to say that we have a safe place already in place off campus if need be and also a system for contacting all faculty immediately upon any situation occurring on our campus. I’m not trying to be vague… again, see me at fish fry, call me on the phone, catch me in the morning or evening, and face to face I would be glad to tell you the details of our safety plan. If your child comes home this week and says we had a couple of drills, you will know that we are again practicing our lock down protocol for staying safe during any event.
I would tell you that all that can be done is being done to keep your child safe. The bad news is, I can never promise you that nothing will ever happen here at this school or anywhere else. But I can promise you that we have a plan, we are actively practicing that plan, and we are trusting in the God of the universe to continue to keep our school safe. There has never been a more prudent time for us to practice our faith than in today’s world. None of us can tolerate the evil in this world without considering our faith that brings us understanding and peace. There are additional layers of safety that we are adding to our school in the next few weeks and will continue to keep you updated as we add more. Trying our best to make drop off and pick up as comfortable as possible, yet at the same time as safe as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, as always please feel free to email me, call me, or drop in to see me. Trusting in the knowing God of the universe for our safety.
Mr. Riggs
Head of Schools
Memorial Baptist School
Phone (504) 887-0533
Cell (504) 453-1856