[StonyPointEagle] Message from Superintendent Moran regarding safety-related rumors

[Price, Ronnie (Ron)]

-----Original Message-----
From: parentcouncil-bounces at listserv.bnsi.net
[mailto:parentcouncil-bounces at listserv.bnsi.net]On Behalf Of Chip Deale
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 7:06 PM
To: parentcouncil at listserv.bnsi.net
Subject: [PC Discuss] Message from Superintendent Moran
regardingsafety-related rumors
Importance: High

Parent Council colleagues -

 

Please refer to the message below from Superintendent Moran that was
prompted by a few calls to the School Division's offices and inquiries
from local broadcast media.

 

Chip Deale

 

Charles W. L. Deale

Head - Society Services

CFA Institute

560 Ray C. Hunt Drive

Charlottesville, VA  22903

Tel (434) 951-5342

Fax (434) 951-5350

chip.deale at cfainstitute.org

www.cfainstitute.org 

________________________________

Dear Parent Council Representatives: 

 

I have received about 5-6 calls to the superintendent's office from
parents who have heard rumors regarding Thursday of this week being the
day that attacks on AHS and WAHS were to occur. I know that further
rumors among some students and parents that "something" might still
happen have been brought to the principals' attention. Based on our work
with Matt Haas and Anne Coughlin at their high schools over the last
couple of months to address rumors, the police and administrative staff
have investigated any comments that have been made by students about
these rumors and ruled out that these concerns or rumors have any
validity.  

 

The police and district attorney believe that all the students involved
in this case have been tried and convicted. Anne Coughlin and Matt Haas
have been working with parents as well as any students who have concerns
to ensure that they know we, as a Division, are always doing everything
we can to ensure student and staff safety every day of the week. We ask
that parents who have questions or concerns about their school's safety
and security, should talk directly with the principal. 

 

Albemarle County Public Schools continues to work closely with the
Albemarle County Police Department to ensure the safety of our students
and staff. This is a relationship we are continually building so we are
proactive about safety issues on our campuses and constantly prepared
should anything happen on any given day. The Police Department advises
us that the recent investigation of Albemarle County students related to
a safety threat was successful and they believe all the suspects in the
case have been arrested and convicted. Right now we have no information
that causes us to believe there are any immediate safety threats to our
schools. We expect school to proceed as it normally does during the next
several days. We have always worked closely with our police department
and have a confidential and comprehensive plan to deal with any
emergencies that might arise. Parents may view the crisis plan for any
school at the school office.

 

We have no reason to expect to have anything but ordinary school days
this week. Resource Officers will be present this week in assigned
schools as they normally are. Staff members at AHS and WAHS have been
asked to increase their visibility on campus and be responsive to
students who might have questions or concerns about school safety. With
Steele Howen, Executive Director of Administrative Services including
our discipline management systems, I will visit WAHS and AHS on
Thursday. Typical drop-in visits from Sergeant Seitz, School Resource
Officer Coordinator, and his extended staff will occur at these schools
during week as well.  

 

While safety is always on our minds, the recent events did prompt us to
look at our schools and some procedures with fresh eyes to find any
areas for improvements in safety. For example: 

 

	*	Every school has a safety plan that's reviewed with
staff every year. The safety plans involve conducting drills to practice
our response to natural or man-made incidents. We do lockdown drills
regularly. Albemarle High conducted one April 12, Jouett did one March 3
and Western on March 30.  

 

	*	We have met with Dr. Dewey Cornell, director of the
Virginia Youth Violence Project and a nationally known threat assessment
expert to review our response to the student arrests and talk about
crisis prevention and response. 

 

	*	Albemarle County Police Department officers trained as
site security specialists are in the process of conducting safety
reviews of campuses. A recent review at Albemarle High prompted several
improvements. 

 

	*	We are in the process of working with the police
department on a joint grant for expanding and upgrading video security
systems at the comprehensive high schools and middle schools. This was
planned over a year ago as a component of our partnership with the
police department. 

 

	*	Electronic communications are often now playing a role
in school safety incidents.  Many of our schools have hosted information
sessions on Internet safety for students and parents, and the school
Division created an information sheet about online safety tips that's
been shared with sites and made available on our website. 

 

	*	We continue as a school division to focus on improving
school climates. Our budget proposal for next school year has several
items that contribute to this work such as an expansion of our bullying
prevention program. 

 

	*	Principals, especially those at the schools attended by
the arrested students, are emphasizing to students, parents and staff
that threats are taken seriously and can be a violation of law and
school codes. They are discussing how threats over the internet or in
any other form should be reported and will be investigated.   

 

 

Sincerely, 

 

Pamela Moran 

Superintendent of Schools  

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