(Updated 5 p.m.) Southington Schools 'On Alert' Following Shooting

A 20-year-old gunman in a Newtown school shooting claimed the lives of 27 people including 20 children, officials said, and with concern of potential copy cat scenarios, Southington schools have been placed on high alert.

Staff with the Board of Education offices said all school administrators have been asked to keep a close and direct eye on entrances in the next week, a policy that was already in place, and beware of any suspicious visitors.

.

(Click the link to read the full story.)

School Superintendent Joseph V. Erardi Jr. said Friday that the district is in the process of creating a telephone blast to all parents and guardians explaining the situation and how Southington Public Schools are going to assure the safety of children in the district.

Let Patch save you time. Get stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone every day with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here.

School administration met Friday at 4 p.m. in the Board of Education offices at 200 N. Main St. to discuss the shooting and ensure policies in place are sustainable in the event that something should ever happen in town.

In a brief interview with the Record-Journal, Erardi said the discussions included precautionary steps that schools will need to take to help prevent any copy cat scenarios:

"We will be talking about the steps we need to take for Monday," Erardi said.

All afterschool activities have been cancelled today.

Soul Space Yoga & Wellness hosted a silent meditation Friday, pausing to remember those who were killed in the senseless Newtown shooting.

Conference Minister Chuck Wildman said that while it is important to keep the victims in our prayers, it is also important that the community respond through positive action and live in their name.

"As news unfolds and more tears flow, we will support one another as a Conference family of churches," Wildman said. "For now, please hold Newtown in your Sunday prayers and honor God's life and salvation among us in this season of Advent Good News by continuing with pageants, concerts, children's programs and the like. These life-affirming activities make a statement that God is with us and evil will NOT have the last word."

Make sure to like Southington Patch on Facebook or follow on Twitter for breaking news, daily updates and more!