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News Releases |
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November 6, 2000 Dear Shaker Heights Middle School Parents: I want to bring you up to date on the measures we have taken in response to the discovery of two threatening notes in our school on Friday. Here are the facts as we know them at this time. On Friday afternoon, Mr. Yates observed a group of students gathered together and clearly excited about a piece of paper they were reading. He approached the group and asked to see the paper. It contained a handwritten list of 16 first names on a scrap of paper. On the side was written “You will die.” Mr. Yates brought the students into the office for questioning. One student informed him that there was another list. At Mr. Yates’s request, the student located the list and brought it to the office. The second list, also handwritten, contained 12 names, along with the message: “Be prepared for Monday cuz you people will have a rude awakening.” Six names appeared on both notes. The notes were shared with the senior administrative staff and with the Shaker Heights Police Department, which is assisting with the investigation. Like all threats, the notes were taken very seriously. Throughout Friday afternoon and evening, staff members at the Middle School continued to interview students and notified the parents of students named in the notes. We continued to investigate, develop a safety plan for today, and respond to parents’ inquiries over the weekend. A few students reported having received prank phone calls over the weekend. These have been reported to the police. In addition, another note listing students’ names was discovered in a restroom this morning and is being investigated. This morning, we had additional adult supervision on hand, as well as a Police Department presence in and around the building. During the course of the day, I met with all the students in their teams to talk with them about the incident and our expectations for behavior at the Middle School. I also encouraged them to come to an adult with any information they might have about who wrote the notes, with the full confidence that they will not be identified. Several students have provided valuable information. They are to be commended. The students and faculty proceeded with their day calmly. I was impressed with the seriousness of the students and their determination to focus on their work, despite the understandable anxiety some of them were experiencing. Several parents came to the Middle School this morning and requested a meeting so that parents can find out more about this incident and our response to it. To accommodate the schedules of all who might be interested in obtaining more information, we have scheduled three meetings over the coming week in the Middle School cafeteria. They will be held this evening at 7 p.m., Thursday, November 9, at 6 p.m., and next Monday, November 13, at 7 p.m. We will continue to have additional supervisory personnel and police in and around the building, and we will continue to investigate the notes until we learn who is responsible. We urge anyone with information to share it with the Middle School staff or the Shaker Heights police. The vast majority of our students are well-behaved and focused on their studies. We are determined not to let a few disrupt the learning process. Thank you for your cooperation in making our school a safe environment for teaching and learning. Sincerely, Neil Glazer November 7, 2000 Letter to Middle School Parents November 9, 2000 Letter to Middle School Parents
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