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School Districts Across Region Reviewing Safety Procedures

By Jericka Duncan

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A day after one of the nation's deadliest shootings, school districts locally and across the country are remembering those killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School and are wondering if there's more schools should be doing to ensure their children's safety.

The Superintendent and the Chief Inspector of the Philadelphia Police tended a meeting Saturday morning to talk about the closure of 37 schools (see related story), but with what happened in Newtown, Connecticut Friday, they took the opportunity to remind parents they are doing everything they can to keep children out of harms way.

"We're going to collaborate with the city of Philadelphia, with the school district, with the community and with anyone who can help us in ensuring our schools are as safe as possible," Chief Inspector Cynthia Dorsey said.

She says metal detectors, cameras and school police will help and that there are several measures in place that will prevent outsiders from coming into public school without a legitimate reason.

"If anyone wants to get in the schools, a person inside the school office can see that person. They have to identify themselves and state their business in the school," Dorsey said.

Some parents at the meeting expressed concern for their children's safety if their school is far away from where they live.

"We have a responsibility to make sure that our students are safe as they travel to and from school," Dorsey said.

School officials say every school in the district has a safety plan and students are expected to perform mandatory drills on what to do if their school is on lockdown.

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