Commentary: Despite the divisive rhetoric, local schools and communities are not at odds

Schools across the country face enormous challenges nowadays. Keeping students and teachers safe from violence is the No. 1 priority. School shootings have become so common that we are no longer surprised when they happen. There were more than 300 shooting incidents on school grounds last year, easily surpassing the totals in 2021 and 2020, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database.

Our youths’ mental health and social-emotional issues are another priority that schools should address consistently.