Superintendent addresses Minnesota tragedy, student safety
Published 2:36 pm Friday, August 29, 2025
On Aug. 27, Mercer Island School District Superintendent Fred Rundle sent a letter to the school community that addressed the tragedy at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that morning.
“Unfortunately, on our very first school day and in the middle of SMART week, a week dedicated to promoting safer gun storage to prevent gun violence, I am compelled to address yet another attack on an American school. It angers me that this morning in Minneapolis, on what should have been a joyous day in the first week of school at Annunciation Catholic School, tragedy struck when a gunman opened fire. Unconscionable gun violence in any school reverberates across all schools,” he wrote.
The letter also reads, “My immediate thoughts go out to all of the students, staff, family, and community members affected. I reflect on the far too many gun-related attacks in our schools near and far.”
He said the horrible events make him angry and at the same time embolden the school district team and himself to stay resolute in their commitment to safety in their schools.
This school year the district is expanding Raptor Technologies with safety features such as software that will allow staff members to place a building into lockdown and alert district staff and local law enforcement of threats. Rundle also noted that during this past legislative session, the Washington Legislature passed Alyssa’s Law, which mandates all schools to install silent alarms that connect directly to local law enforcement agencies to accelerate law enforcement response time. He also included information about the district’s involvement in the See Something Say Something call/text center, which monitors and responds to tips 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“In conjunction with MIPD and other law enforcement agencies, we attend trainings and rehearse for emergencies in our schools ranging from fires to earthquakes to active shooters. We maintain an active partnership with the Puget Sound Educational Service District’s School Safety Cooperative, giving us access to the latest safety training and threat assessment protocols,” Rundle said.
Rundle concluded his letter with these words: “With heavy hearts for the Annunciation Catholic School community, I remind us that we are an exceptional school district because of our awesome students, dedicated staff, and involved families. I look forward to hearing stories of learning, joy, and exceptionality from everyone in the coming days and weeks as we embark on the 2025-26 school year.”
