Putting together Monday’s special report on school safety since Uvalde was deeply personal and challenging. It was a tough topic that actually sadly mirrored the first major project I led as part of the Texas Standard team. As we start this school year, we're not even three months out from the deadliest school shooting in Texas history. I hate that we even have so many of them that we have to rank them that way. And, like many parents and Texans of all types, I'm feeling deeply concerned that our schools keep becoming targets. This is how Ovidia Molina, president of the Texas State Teachers Association, put it: "The threat is in the air, and preparing for how we will be receiving our students on the first day to help them feel safe – when we may not feel safe – is a struggle for our educators right now."

At the same time, I'm trying to put aside those dark feelings and delight in the excitement of a new school year and the many wonderful things it will bring. I remember how, even though the CDC recently underscored concerns about firearm dangers to kids, Jeff Temple, vice dean of research and founder of the Center for Violence Prevention at the University of Texas Medical Branch, told me schools are some of the safest places for kids to be. He also said trying to wrap our heads around the risk is too big of a task: "And so oftentimes ... we put it aside or distract ourselves, and, you know what, unfortunately, that might be the healthiest thing we can do right now."

But that doesn't mean passively accepting the inevitability of another school shooting. Shouldn't we try to prevent future attacks on schools? What would work? Are there steps Texans can agree on? That's exactly what our program aims to explore. If you haven't listened yet, I hope you will. Even more, I hope you'll engage with us. Tell us what you think . Did we miss something or get something wrong? What do you think the next steps should be? We truly hope you'll share your voice. It's a conversation we're committed to continuing – because we think Texans can agree that we don't want another Uvalde or Santa Fe.

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