Should she or shouldn't she?
It was a debate Taylor mom Danielle Bertocki had with herself Monday morning before finally deciding to drop her daughter off for kindergarten at Riverside Elementary West.
"I couldn't teach her to live in fear," said Ms. Bertocki, 28.
As Monday marked the first day back to school after 20 children and six adults died Friday after a gunman stormed their school, Sandy Hook Elementary, in Newtown, Conn., area parents, as well as those nationwide, faced similar internal debates.
In Northeast Pennsylvania, most parents stuck with their routines, sending their children to classes.
Despite some anxiety about sending her son back to school, Miriam Leon, 42, ultimately sent her son to join his kindergarten classmates at Riverside Elementary West.
"I felt that it is better that he's in school," she said.
Area administrators and teachers spent much of Monday assuring students they are safe and preparing for the unimaginable: What if this happened here.
"We have policies and procedures in place, but it's a reminder that Sandy Hook could have been Scranton, Pa.," Scranton Superintendent William King said.
Mr. King spoke with Acting Scranton Police Chief Carl Graziano over the weekend, and on Monday, police officers were present at many elementary schools as students entered the buildings.
During a meeting with principals and other administrators, Mr. King said he discussed increasing the awareness of everyone, including students and parents, to alert authorities when something out of the ordinary is seen inside or outside a school.
"It's incumbent upon us to do everything humanly possible ... to make sure everyone is safe," Mr. King said.
Mid Valley's school resource officer, who is usually stationed at the secondary center, spent time at the elementary school Monday, Superintendent Randy Parry said. Mr. Parry said he and school board members will discuss adding a resource officer to be permanently stationed at the elementary school. A school resource officer is a school-based law enforcement officer.
Administration discussed protocols over the weekend, and spoke to Throop police on Saturday. On Monday, police conducted more patrols around the district's campus.
The school psychologist spoke to secondary school students, and teachers answered the questions of curious elementary school students, Mr. Parry said.
In Carbondale, police officers increased visibility outside school buildings, and the board will review stationing a resource officer permanently at the elementary school, Acting Superintendent David Cerra said. There is already an officer stationed at the high school. More secure exterior doors were part of the high school's renovation, and security cameras in the school are being tweaked for better coverage.
"We feel that there's always room for improvement, but I think we're pretty secure," Mr. Cerra said.
Abington Heights officials met with the administrative staff to discuss security procedures, Superintendent Michael Mahon, Ph.D., said.
"We are confident the procedures we have in place are good, but by the end of the week, we could have recommendations on how to improve them," Dr. Mahon said.
Contact the writers: jkohut@timesshamrock.com; shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter