[HenleyMatters] Message from PATSO President

[Hashisaki]

Hello, everyone,
I have just returned from the press conference given by Supt. Pam  
Moran and
Police Lt. John Taxiera. First, let me say that information regarding  
school
tomorrow will be sent out this evening through the emergency  
notification
system and will be on the county website as well as the school  
closing line,
296-5886, so please check your e-mail or phone in to get that  
information as
it becomes available.

I know information is being given out through the media, but here are  
the
highlights from a fellow parent: This morning at about 7am, Henley and
Brownsville staff found two suspicious items "near the front", one at
Henley, one at Brownsville. One was a package that was "rendered  
safe" with
a water cannon. The other was an item which Lt. Taxiera declined to
identify, which he said was also "neutralized." He said these items
presented a "threat" and a "scare." Throughout the course of the day,  
they
have had 65 officers, 2 bomb squads, 2 robots, and 17 canines (who were
training at the Pentagon and brought down!). Tomorrow there will  
continue to
be extra patrols, both in uniform and in plain clothes.

The police are currently following up leads and will prosecute to the
fullest extent of the law. They are encouraging parents and families  
to talk
with their children and one another and if you have any information  
to call
either the police, at 296-5807, or Crimestoppers, sorry, I don't know  
that
number.

Interestingly, Dr. Moran talked about possibly having a community  
forum for
the western part of the county to talk about recent events. Don't  
know how
or when that will happen.

I felt quite comfortable that the schools will be completely safe before
they are allowed to reopen. Dr. Moran also said they met with  
teachers and
staff to make sure they know procedures for tomorrow and extra  
counselors
will be on hand for students who are upset or uncomfortable.

I don't know if this helps anyone at all, but I thought I would  
share. If
you have any questions, I can try to answer them. Probably the best  
way to
get hold of me is by e-mail, jwebster at k12albemarle.org. I will try to  
reply
as soon as possible.

Again, remember to check your e-mail or the school closing line this
evening.
Wishing you all the best
Janet Webster
Henley PATSO co-President