School shootings, such as the one Wednesday in Colorado, are horrible tragedies. They are thankfully rare. Still, they have also distorted communities’ sense of safety as witnessed this week when four area schools were closed because a 16-year-old boy believed to have a gun was at large. This incident, particularly the poor communication of the school closures, raises many questions that school, municipal and public safety officials should consider as they write or re-write policies for dealing with such situations.

Andru Smart, an Orono High School student, stole several vehicles and took a gun from his grandparents, according to police. He evaded capture for days before being caught late Wednesday afternoon. The teenager, who is from Glenburn, apparently has a recent history of theft; whether he has a his-tory of violence is unknown.

Kelly Clenchy, the superintendent of schools in Orono, said there was no evidence that the district’s students were threatened and no indication that the boy would target other Orono students for violence. Early Wednesday morning, however, he decided to close the town’s three schools to “be cautious.” The Glenburn Elementary School was also closed. Being at home with parents was the best place for the town’s students to be, said Mr. Clenchy.

Many students weren’t home with their parents on Wednesday. Some went to day care, some likely tagged along to work with a parent and many, especially high school students, hung out by themselves.

Diane Hoff, a professor of educational leadership at the University of Maine, says that students who feel desperate or cornered may take out their anger on peers they see as having a better life. Schools, especially after the publicity of shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado, have become a likely place to take out that desperation, she says.

Since 1996, 50 children have been killed in school shootings in the United States. This number includes the shooters. Last year, by comparison, 720 people under the age of 18 were murdered with firearms.

Compounding the problem, not everyone knew about the Orono closure. The district’s Web page said the schools were closed for “unforeseen circumstances” and announcements were made on local TV and radio stations. On a sunny morning, many parents weren’t likely to check a Web site or tune in to TV or radio to ensure school wasn’t canceled.

Unanswered phones at schools and the district office compounded the problem. Ensuring parents have adequate and accurate information – including where to check for updates – would calm nerves and quell rumors.

School officials have the difficult job of balancing student safety against lost instructional time and parental inconvenience. Being overly cautious tips that balance.