_{News media have sought perspective from AASA on the latest school shooting tragedy, leading to 17 deaths in the Broward County, Fla., school system.}

_{The association is often a go-to source for reporters seeking comment on national developments involving elementary and secondary schools.}

_{The network affiliates in Nashville for ABC, CBS and NBC inquired about superintendent reaction in regards to the school shooting, and two of the stations sent news crews to the Music City Center to interview AASA Executive Director Daniel Domenech, according to James Minichello, who handles news media relations for AASA.}

_{Meanwhile, the NPR affiliate in Boston contacted AASA about speaking with a Massachusetts-based superintendent for a live program Thursday afternoon on the shootings.}

_{Minichello, the association’s director of communications, worked with Domenech to issue the following statement Thursday morning in response to the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.:} 

_{“We are once more saddened and shocked by the school shooting that occurred yesterday in a Broward County High School.}

_{“According to The Washington Post we are averaging one school shooting per week this year. Since 2000 there have been 130 shootings resulting in 250 student and teacher deaths. Subsequent to the Sandy Hook shooting, the AASA Governing Board in July of 2013 adopted a Position Paper on School Safety that says: ‘If we hope to prevent future tragedies at schools, we must comprehensively address both school safety and gun safety. Increased mental health services, community supports for youth, and new attitudes about violence in our entertainment must all be part of this approach. We must be willing to spend the time and resources necessary to make sustainable changes. AASA hopes that school leaders find ways of enhancing their current school safety procedures as outlined above, but we know federal funding is critical to ensuring schools remain the safest place for children to be.’}

_{“Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims in Parkland Florida as we continue to push our elected officials to do what is right and necessary to stop this senseless violence affecting our children and staff.”}

Read Steve Matthews’s blog post about this event.