ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester City School District began the new school year on Thursday in the wake of a mass shooting at a Georgia high school that left two students and two teachers dead. Local and state education leaders spoke about safety measures to keep campuses safe.

Deputy Superintendent Ruth Turner says RCSD is always focused on the mental health and physical safety of its students, both in the classroom and once they leave school, partnering with local organizations.

“Violence can take place anywhere at any time and the best that we can do is ensure safety measures that once students enter our school building, that we’re as safe as we possibly can be,” Turner said.

New York State Commissioner of Education Betty Rose visited Rochester on Thursday as the district opened five new schools. She spoke with News10NBC about efforts to prevent school shootings.

“One thing that we keep seeing is how do we take those signs that we see, and work with those signs. We are also blessed in New York State with the gun control issue,” Rose said.

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