At School Safety Summit, Bush Urges Adults to Share Information to 'Save Lives'

Chevy Chase, Md.

At a summit on school safety sponsored by the federal government today, President Bush stressed the need for law-enforcement officers, educators, and others who work with children and youths across the country to exchange ideas on how to best prevent school violence. The purpose of the conference, the president said, “has got to be so we share information so we can save lives.”

In brief remarks, Mr. Bush expressed regret that recent deadly school shootings in Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin had made it necessary for him to call a national summit on school safety issues. “The violence we’re having in our schools is incredibly sad and it troubles a lot of folks, and it troubled me and Laura,” said the president, who was accompanied by first lady Laura Bush. “Rather than be upset, it’s best to be proactive.”

Mr. Bush listened for about 45 minutes to a recap by U.S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, and selected panelists, about discussions earlier in the day on preventing violence, preparing schools and communities to be safer, and...