WEDNESDAY MARCH 5, 2008

BOMB THREAT AT GEORGETOWN MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL

WEDNESDAY MARCH 12, 2008:
6:00 P.M. GHMS
BOMB THREAT MEETING, see e-mail below:

 
----- Original Message -----
From: Cathy Sullivan
To: Paul Swaim
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 3:28 PM
Subject: FW: Important Message from the Superintendent

 

GEORGETOWN SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

Office of the Superintendent

51 North Street

Georgetown, MA 01833

978-352-5777

 

       Carol C.  Jacobs

Superintendent of Schools

 

March 7, 2008

 

Dear Georgetown Community,

 

As we continue to reflect on the events of Wednesday, March 5, 2008 involving the bomb scare at the Middle/High School, I want to assure you of a few things:

 

  1. Our first priority was for the safety of the students at that Middle/High School and the need to respond to a threat that was made at the same time when students were arriving at school.

 

  1. Our second priority was to ensure that there was a smooth and orderly evacuation to the Perley School as per our evacuation plan.  This process was developed at the District Safety Committee in coordination with the Police and Fire Departments.  Also included in this process was the desire to cause the least disruption to the students at Perley.  While disruption was unavoidable, the staff should be commended for the way they handled the situation.

 

I have become aware that concerns have been raised regarding the handling of this incident and we are interested in providing a forum where these concerns can be voiced and answers can be provided as part of our debriefing process.  We have scheduled a meeting on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 6:00 PM in the Middle/High School auditorium.  At this time the Police and Fire Chiefs, the School Resource Officer and school and district administration will be available to answer questions.  I also want to let you know that the following actions have already been taken in response to this incident:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is my hope that the meeting on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 will be an opportunity for a productive discussion about this incident with an eye toward making improvements going forward.  Even the most well conceived plans require that decisions be made based upon the best information that is available at the time when unexpected circumstances arise.  The incident on Wednesday was no exception and we will use the information we have learned to make adjustments for the future.  Please bring your suggestions to the meeting so that they can be considered in our action plan.

 

Despite the concerns, I remain convinced that we are united in our interest in making the safety of all of our students our highest priority.  I can promise you that the actions taken on Wednesday were always with that in mind and the main outcome was achieved – students were safe and accounted for while the building was searched and deemed completely safe for students to return.  I want to offer my thanks to the various public safety departments in town for assisting us in dealing with this incident and to the staff, students, and parents who made the best out of a challenging situation.

 

We look forward to Wednesday night, however as always, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like to speak to me personally.  This is a priority and my door is open.


Sincerely,


Carol C. Jacobs

Superintendent of Schools

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: e-mailed at 1:30 p.m by Lonnie Brennan to folks on Rich's e-mail listing:

Anything I know that was appropriate for public posting is now on www.GeorgetownToday.com.
Some of it is fact.
Some if it is rumor.
 
 
I chose to post all, as it reflects the current state of the parents and students,
and may help folks to think about better ways to handle things in the future.
 
I was very impressed by the high school staff, assistant principal, etc, and all those at the Perley working with the kids and parents, who had great attitudes and did their best to help.

 

From the SCHOOL WEBSITE(but deleted?):

H
*****URGENT INFO ABOUT GMHS CONCERNING March 5, 2008*****
On March 5, 2008 at approximately 7:15 AM a bomb threat was received at the MHS.  Police and Fire
responded immediately and all students were accounted for and safely evacuated to the Perley Elementary School. 
The school was then  checked for safety.
 
As of 10:30 AM Georgetown Middle High School was cleared for occupancy.  All students returned to the school
and classes are now in session.  I would like to sincerely thank all of the students, staff, and parents for their calm and
cooperation during this emergency.  A special thanks to the Georgetown Police and Fire Departments as well as the
State Police for their efforts to secure our school.

 

-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
From: "John Faucher" <faucher@georgetown.k12.ma.us>
Subject: IMPORTANT MESSAGE-UPDATE
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2008 14:39:05 +0000
st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }

On March 5, 2008 at approximately 7:15 AM a bomb threat was received at the MHS.  Police and Fire responded immediately and all students were accounted for and safely evacuated to the Perley Elementary School.  The school is currently being checked for safety and students will return to class as soon as possible.
 


Parents stand in line outside the Perley Elementary School to retrieve children who sought shelter from the rain following evacuation of Middle/High School.
Parents signed out students as high school and Perley staff assisted.
Atmosphere was concerned but good. Teachers were supportive and administration was helpful. Some strong concerns and rumors (some noted below) were bantied about by parents and students. Biggest concern expressed was "WHAT did they do for 30 minutes? Didn't they have a plan???" And similar comments regarding delay between discovery and action taken to evacuate school.

North Street was lined with cars both sides, Perley grounds were packed with vehicles, as were side streets in the area.
March 5, 2008 - Photo by Lonnie Brennan

 

 

FACTS:

BOMB THREAT REPORTED
30 minutes later, school evacuated via fire alarm
Parents ask: why did they continue to let more folks into a potential bomb zone?
Parents ask: what were they doing for 30 minutes??? contemplating the situation? didn't they have a PLAN?
Why didn't they at least ask the kids to keep their coats with them, in case of a fire alarm evacuation?
Why did it take 30 minutes to make a decision?
Why couldn't they take 'attendance' and/or responsibility for the kids, as they arrived, and directed them with police and fire and teachers to the Perley or the Library?
Why did they continue to let hundreds of kids enter the school? What if it was REAL????

 

INFORMATION FROM PARENTS AND KIDS :

Details as told to my by various parents and kids:

1. Reportedly a note was discovered before school started (approx. 7 a.m.) in the Girl's Bathroom on a lower floor.

2. Teachers were reportedly telling students NOT to go down the hallway where the science and food rooms are before school started.

3. Nothing seemed to be wrong around 7:25.

4. School announcements as usual just after 7:30, approx. 15 to 30 minutes after initial discover. School was not full, as most students arrive from 7:15 - 7:25, reportedly.
No mention of the bomb threat was made.

BETWEEN 7:15 and 7:45 when they let the kids go about their normal business, "What were they thinking??"
was what parents have asked.
" Why did they let the buses continue to arrive and drop off students?" and put more kids in danger? Is what was asked.

5. At approx. 7:45 fire alarms went off.
FACT: Kids were in school. My daughter was taking a math test!! (BRENNAN)

Students exited the building and stood outside IN THE BACK PARKING LOT for about 5 minutes.
When it started to pour, they RUSHED over to the Perley Elementary School.
High School students went to the Gym. Middle School students went to the Cafeteria.

6. Approx. 8:15 they reportedly told the students why they had evacuated the school.

7. Wet students then began calling parents.

8. At approx. 10:15, remaining students not picked up began walking back to the the Middle/High School.  

Reportedly there are cameras in the area of the school where the note was found, so it may just be a matter of time until the offender is screwed.