EVERGREEN, Colo. (KDVR)— One week after the shooting at Evergreen High School, some parents say they are still looking for clearer answers from Jefferson County Public Schools about safety measures and how information was shared during the crisis.
District leaders at the school district sent a detailed email to FOX31 on Wednesday, acknowledging community concerns.
“We recognize that in moments like this, communication can never feel like enough,” said the district leaders in the email.
The district added that it used email, text and phone alerts to reach families and remains “fully committed to making any changes and strengthening safety practices based on what is learned.”
Lindsay Datko, founder of the parent advocacy group Jeffco Kids First, told FOX31 that many families feel the initial messaging was incomplete.
“When Jeffco Schools, a couple of hours after the shooting, sent out their first email and said there had been an incident outside the school — and we knew differently — my heart sank,” Datko said. “I wondered if we were going to have another communications crisis.”
The district has promised several new security steps before students return to campus, including a full-time school resource officer, an armed safety officer dedicated to Evergreen High and added mental-health support.
Datko questioned how the district will fund those safety measures, citing the district’s ongoing budget deficit.
Evergreen High School Shooting | Coverage from FOX31
“We need SROs in Jeffco schools. They need to be a top priority, and our mountain schools should never have been deprioritized,” Datko said.
Officials also noted that a full review of the response will follow the Jefferson County Sheriff’s investigation.
However, the school district said it will continue reviewing its communication plan and welcomes feedback from families as the community moves forward.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
