Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Louisville are required to have an annually updated written emergency management plan, according to Amy Nall, superintendent of Catholic schools. School leaders also receive regular updates on school safety standards.

“We are ensuring our community, our parents, but really the whole community who loves and supports our schools, that our number one priority is always the safety of the student,” said Nall in a recent phone interview.

Following a shooting at a school Mass in Minneapolis on August 27 that resulted in two deaths and multiple injuries, Nall explained how local Catholic schools approach student safety.

“I hope that it provides some comfort,” said Nall. “We take it very, very seriously because the safety of the individual student is our responsibility, and we always want to follow best practices.”

The Office of Catholic Schools works with the Kentucky Center for School Safety. The center was established by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1998 to offer guidance and support for safe schools across Kentucky.

“They help us with updates on legislation, best practices for physical safety, they provide training,” Nall said. “They inform us on the importance of safe social media for the emotional safety of our children. And they help us on culture and climate, so it’s a safe place.”

Each summer, archdiocesan staff attend training sessions provided by the center. The center’s staff can tour school facilities to identify hazards and supply templates for emergency management plans. These plans must be updated each year and submitted to the Office of Catholic Schools.

“It goes all the way from prevention to protection to mitigation to response to recovery. It walks you through everything you would need,” said Nall. “It has what to do if a threat is made against the school, what to do if there’s a gas leak, how to handle a suicide. It’s a comprehensive guide for school safety, and it guides us through the creation of a school safety plan.”

Schools are expected to maintain lists of individuals needing assistance during evacuations and inventory staff skills relevant in emergencies such as medical or hazardous materials situations.

“We are vigilant about the accountability,” Nall said. “We all take school safety seriously.”

Nall highlighted three key points emphasized by the Kentucky Center for School Safety: maintaining communication between parents and children about both physical and emotional safety; encouraging relationships within schools; and promoting parental involvement through volunteering.

For parents concerned about their children’s well-being at school, she advised: “Have a relationship with your child — make sure you’re talking to them about safety. It’s not just their physical, but their emotional safety.”

Also, “Have relationships at school — know the teachers, participate, be an active volunteer,” she said. “I really think it’s about those relationships, partnering with the school and talking with your son or daughter.”