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March 20, 2003
To: All Employees
From: Christopher J. Steinhauser
Superintendent of Schools
Subject: Our Role During War
I want to thank each of you for the outstanding job you are doing to maintain a safe and secure learning environment for our students. Ever since our school district was founded more than 118 years ago, its employees have come together many times to serve children during wars and other crises. Each of you is part of that proud tradition. I know that many of you are deeply affected and concerned about the events unfolding in Iraq and other places. Yet you continue to perform your duties in full support of safe and effective schools.
We are determined not to allow the news events of the day, as extraordinary as they may be, to disrupt our children’s education. As much as possible, every day, we must focus on their learning and success.
We have excellent safety plans. As an extra precaution, we’ve worked closely with local law enforcement, fire departments and the Red Cross to make certain they are available to respond rapidly in the unlikely event they are needed.
The Long Beach Unified School District is a family. We will care for our students and each other. Many of our employees and their loved ones are now serving in the armed forces in the Middle East. To these families, we extend our thoughts and prayers. For school employees who have been called to active duty, our district is paying the difference in salary they would have received here compared to their military pay. We do not want their service to our country to be more of a hardship to their families than it already is.
The rest of us can do our part by continuing to make sure our students are safe, reassured and learning. We have provided excellent resources to your school with materials and suggestions that will help students deal with disturbing events. Our school psychologists, counselors and social workers stand ready to assist at a moment’s notice.
We face difficult days ahead, but we are joined together in the noble purpose of protecting and helping children. This guiding principle will help us endure difficult times, just as it has for more than a century. I know you are doing all you can to put the interests and welfare of our students first, and for that I am deeply grateful.