White Oak, TX — Mike Gilbert, superintendent of the White Oak Independent School District, assured parents Sunday afternoon the district has plans in place to deal with a variety of possible “worst case” scenarios.

“It’s not perfect, because no plan is, and we’re going to be reviewing and possibly revising it during the next couple of months,” Gilbert said. “However, I do want all of you to know that the safety of our students is our first priority, because kids can’t learn if they’re scared.”

Gilbert spoke to about 80 people who gathered to discuss school safety in the wake of the massacre last month of students at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Conn. Across the nation, school and law enforcement officials have been reviewing emergency plans since the mid-December shootings.

A variety of area officials, including Gregg County Sheriff Maxey Cerliano and the city’s police chief and assistant police chief, also attended Sunday’s gathering. The event was officially a public hearing conducted by the district’s board of trustees. Board members also were on hand.

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