Fayette County school counselors were alerted Wednesday to be "ready and on call" for students reacting to the tragic high school shootings that occurred Tuesday in Colorado.

In a memo directed to all school principals, superintendent of schools Dr. John DeCotis advised members of the CARE team and in-school counselors to be prepared for students' questions and concerns. He also advised school personnel to be on the lookout for copycats, specifically students dressed like the alleged perpetrators of the Colorado incident, who wore black trench coats. Additionally, principals were instructed to review their emergency crisis management plans.

Counselors at Fayette County High School said they have not had any students come in to discuss the nation's latest school tragedy, but indicated their doors were open. "We are readily available to talk with students," said counselor Colleen Petty.

Wayne Robinson, director of the district's secondary schools, called the Littleton, Colo. disaster "a horrible wake-up call." Speaking on behalf of DeCotis who is attending a superintendent's meeting in Macon, Robinson said, "Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the people who died. This was a senseless act of aggression and hate," he said.

"Several parents have called today concerned about what procedures we have in place," Robinson continued. He explained that each school has a plan in the event of an emergency. Staffers have specific duties and know the codes for evacuation and lock down in each school in the event of a crisis. "We are trying to be proactive," Robinson said. "We will continue to focus on discipline, and do everything we can to produce a safe environment for our students and teachers."

There have been very few cases of students bringing firearms to school in Fayette County, noted Robinson. In a school system with approximately 18,000 students, there has been one incident reported this year, at Flat Rock Middle School. Robinson said previously there have been as many as three cases some years, and none at all in other years.

While the alternative school housed at the LaFayette Center has the only walk-through metal detector in the school system, Robinson said every school is furnished with a hand-held metal detector. Police officers, called school resource officers, are stationed on high school campuses during regular school hours. Robinson said there has been discussion about having officers on the middle school grounds as well, not because there is trouble, but because they serve as positive role models and establish a good rapport between young people and law enforcement.

Karen Spangler, who heads up student services for Fayette County schools, said she had received several calls from parents in the aftermath of Tuesday's terrifying situation at Columbine High School in Colorado, noting that a "new situation" has developed here. "Parents are no longer feeling comfortable sitting back. They want to do something," she said.

Spangler is advising parents to look into the vast spectrum of volunteer opportunities open to them through the school district, including mentoring programs, tutoring and making a difference with their own children by "being the best parent you can be."

For families undergoing unusually stressful times, or those who believe they may need professional help, Spangler said there are approximately 40 mental health providers who will schedule an initial appointment at no cost for assessment upon school district referral. "This is a wonderful resource," she said. She emphasized that the student assistance program seeks to identify and help students who are not succeeding, emotionally, academically or socially as early as possible. By reaching these children, Spangler said the school district can "drastically minimize" the odds of a tragedy occurring here.

Administrators and teachers learned how to spot students who were at risk. "We did some things at the beginning of the school year that focused on recognizing students' behavior that had the potential for causing harm," Robinson said. "We also had principals talk to students about academic and behavioral expectations. We've tightened up, specifically involving the big three, violence, weapons and drugs," Robinson said.