UPDATE: The 13-year-old shooting victim at Noblesville West Middle school has been identified by her family late Friday night as Ella Whistler. Her family released the following statement:
“Our daughter, Ella Whistler, was involved in a horrific shooting today at her school. We will spend the next days and weeks processing what happened and why. But first, we wanted to say she is doing well at Riley Hospital for Children. Her status is critical, yet we are pleased to report she is stable. We’d like to thank everyone across the country who prayed for our family today. We’ve felt those prayers and appreciate each of them. We’d also like to thank the first responders, Noblesville police, Indiana State Police and the medical staff and surgeons at Riley. Please do not contact our family for further comment at this time. We appreciate you respecting our privacy as we support Ella in her recovery.”
For a long time, I made my living by writing. Even after leaving journalism as a profession in 1983 and taking a job with the federal government, I spent a lot of time writing in that job.
I always had something on my mind to write. This time, this evening, I’ve been thinking all day what I was going to express. So, I guess I’ll just write what I’m feeling.
I feel sadness, frustration and sympathy. There has been a school shooting in a school corporation next door to ours. Noblesville Schools endured a shooting at a middle school.
As student witnesses were interviewed by the local television reporters camped outside, it hit me just how young these students are. It also hit me how young the 13-year-old girl shot in the tragedy is. I also thought that the shooter is just as young. I just cannot wrap my mind around that.
Then there is the story of the science teacher at Noblesville West Middle School, Jason Seaman. Stories are now being told about his heroism in stopping the shooter, preventing additional violence. It appears he has undergone surgery, and based on everything I am hearing from people that know him, his medical team expects a full recovery.
I am also hearing that there are many more heroes whose stories will be told in the coming days, as authorities are able to disclose more details about what happened in that school Friday morning.
We all must think and pray for the victims and their families, but that is just not enough. What I think and pray about is an open consideration of what must be done to prevent more of these shootings. When looking for solutions, I only ask this – nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing, should be taken off the table for consideration in that discussion. Anything less would be failing our students, who have enough to worry about without having one more stressful worry on their minds as they go to school each day.
There is one thing I want all residents of Delaware, Fall Creek and Wayne Townships (The City of Fishers is included within that boundary) to know. The Hamilton Southeastern Schools will sponsor a public forum Wednesday, May 30th, at 6:30pm. The plan is to hold this event at the Charles Leonard Audiorium at HSE High School. Those coming should use Entrance 18 at the College and Career Academy.
This forum is a joint effort of Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and Hamilton Southeastern Schools Superintendent Allen Bourff. It’s called “Safe City, Safe Schools.” This forum will look at ways to better protect local students. There will also be first-hand information on some of the measures HSE Schools and Fishers City officials have in place.
If the attendance at this event looks to be very large, the location may be changed. If so, I will post that here on my blog and my Twitter account @LarryInFishers
My heart goes out to Beth Niedermeyer, Noblesville Schools Superintendent. I got to know her when she served as an assistant superintendent at HSE Schools. This must have been the toughest day on the job for her as an educator.
There are some silver linings here. All the adjoining public safety agencies, including Fishers Police and Fire, sent assistance to Noblesville in their time of crisis. It is amazing that once there is an emergency situation, everyone closes ranks. That is encouraging.
Also, the school officials and students did what they were trained to do. We still do not have all the details, but everything we know now indicates the injures were kept at a minimum because everyone, including the students, did what they were trained to do.
It’s just sad that part of going to school these days is doing drills and preparing for a shooting incident. It’s time to consider all options in preventing tragedies like this. We adults fail our own children if we fail to look at all the solutions available.