By Dane Anderson, Staff Writer

The Eanes school district School Safety and Health Advisory Council recently put out cookies, treats and tea and packed the administration building with smiling people in uniform. It was a celebration for all the people who help keep residents in the Eanes community safe. 

It was a time to honor the local fire departments, the multiple policing agencies, the school nurses, the security guards, the athletic trainers, the CPR trainers and the bus drivers, said Julie Stevenson, SSHAC chairman.

“These folks serve in roles that are often taken for granted or overlooked unless we need them,” Stevenson said. “Each one of those functions has a direct responsibility for the safety and care of our students and community. We want them to feel valued by us.”

Attending the ceremony May 20 was district safety officer Laura Santos Farry.

“It just seemed like it was a neighborly gesture to take time at the end of our school year to express to the first responders our appreciation for just being there for us,” she said. “It is a good opportunity to have our administrators and the first responders visit under casual conditions and not in the midst of a school emergency.”

Also there to show her thanks was Eanes Superintendent Nola Wellman. 

“Over the last several years, the district’s link with local emergency responders has been greatly strengthened,” she said. “These agencies are now closely involved with our safety and emergency planning processes. Thanks to our SSHAC, we were able to show our        gratitude in an informal was to celebrate that relationship.”