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Updated 12/21/2012 07:23 AM

Schools in Capital Region review safety protocol

The tragedy of the Sandy Hook shooting has school districts in our area closely reviewing their safety and security policies. At large districts like North Colonie, school leaders say they're working with police to make sure kids are safe. Our Madeleine Rivera reports.

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LATHAM, N.Y. – “Why someone would want to do that, if someone would want to do that, that really is a serious matter particularly at this time,” said Joseph Corr, North Colonie Central School District Superintendent.

When schools in the Capital Region heard rumors that a shooting might take place Friday, school officials and police took the threat very seriously.

“We spoke to the individuals. We spoke to the Colonie Police Department, had school officials speak to the department, and we determined that there was not anything substantial,” said Corr.

“They say something. It's taken out of context and now has everybody stirred up,” said Chief Steven Heider of the Colonie Police Department.

Relief that there's no credible threat for a community still reeling from what happened in Newtown, Connecticut.

“Let's face it. This country's a little sensitive. Rightfully so. We've had a very tragic incident happen,” said Chief Heider.

School officials say they have a heightened awareness of security, making sure that students, staff and visitors adhere to all security protocols that are put in place. Most schools work regularly with school employees, police and fire chiefs to rehearse and update lockdown and evacuation procedures, should a situation arise on campus.

While police and school leaders say there isn't a real threat to students Friday, they say they have methods of determining the legitimate threats from rumors,

“I think that when you find out that a person has access to weapons, has access to any type of situation where they can cause harm to somebody, or when someone has carried out something to further what they say, and that's the key point. A lot of times, that does not exist,” said Chief Heider.

Even though these rumors are unfounded, tomorrow there will be an increased number of police officers at the all the schools in North and South Colonie as a safety precaution.