SWEETWATER-Most everyone can agree they want a safe learning environment for students.

But how do you provide the safest learning environment possible with the funds that are available all the while trying to keep schools from looking like prisons and keep parent and community access to the buildings?

That was the topic of friendly discussion as dozens of city school officials, parents, teachers, School Board members, Sweetwater Police officers, city commissioners and citizens met Monday night for a town-hall style meeting on school safety.

Sweetwater City Director of Schools Dr. Melanie Miller led the meeting, but stressed it was not a City Commission or School Board meeting. It was a meeting to get public input and update everyone on what the city schools are doing to improve safety since the Sandy Hook school shooting in Connecticut last month.

Miller said e-mails and calls offering help came in to her office immediately after the Sandy Hook tragedy.

"A lot of good suggestions have come in," she said.

See full story in the Wednesday, Jan. 9, edition of The Advocate & Democrat.