The Observation Deck

I have said in every post that I am hearing rumors and posting them as I hear them and awaiting facts. I never said anything was facts and would much rather hear there was no gun. As of now and the phone calls I made, there is no verification of a gun being found on school grounds. This fight escalated into a racial thing and that is still a fact, so in my opinion, lining up the kids to check each bag today was not handling it the best they could. I am still allowed to have my opinion and knowing how all school shootings occurred I stand by that. Never did I put down the whole police department here. Once again, if there was no gun this time, there is a change to put in more measures to ensure a gun doesn't get in, in the future. If you don't see that Stephen, I do. And I fully expected Shawn to jump in and defend your posts but I still see them for what they are. You try to make women feel dumb, but move on, no matter the outcome here, I stick to my opinions and hope the rumors develop into real facts.

It's condescending of you to tell her to settle down. She'll breath easier knowing what steps were taken to intervene before these things happen

Good point Sharon.. It was just my Spock logic coming to the surface...

another botched handling case..

this reminds me of the week I had to breath in asbestos while the asbestos meters were beeping like crazy and half of our school was blocked off with only plywood boards.

Get the info and talk about that.

Exactly

What I know.

The student who was in the clinic had been the recipient of a heart transplant. The his body had begun to reject the transplant, and there was nothing further that could be done for him. It is my understanding that yesterday there was a false report that the student had passed away which caused a good deal of upset at the school. That student did in fact pass away this morning.

There was a threat made by a student which involved bringing a gun to school. I don't know how or if this was related to the student in the Clinic. In any event, the school, in response to the threat went into "lockdown" mode. Students were searched (my daughter, to her great indignation was frisked). No weapons were reported as being found. School is open, but because of the early morning events, many students have gone home.

Jeff

Justine, I was not trying to make anyone feel dumb. The point of my post was to bring some rational to the reasoning of the LPD.

Facts:

There was a student at LHS who was terminally ill. (Student A)

There was a student at LHS (Student B) who made crass and hateful remarks regarding Student A to the friend (Student C) of Student A.

Student C took issue with the remarks and hit Student B.

Student C has been suspended.

Student B has is out of school pending expulsion/suspension hearing.

Sadly, Student A has passed away.

In midst of this tragedy, calls to the police and school threatening the high school were received. Crisis response teams were mobilized.

Students arriving at LHS this morning were searched and parents were given the option of taking students home.

Things at LHS are presently calm.

Thank you Susan.

The poor child that died, my heart goes out to his family.

This whole thing is too sad.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:
Yet again another example of how poorly those in charged handle this.


With over 12 hours this could have been handled much better!

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Starting with your post. This was just another example of inflammatory, tabloid style posting that wastes time and energy that might have been better spent getting the facts and helping make a positive contribution to the community.

Who need Rupert Murdock when we have Jim O'Bryan? Pathetic.

Thank you Suzanne. I still think if the threat was made yesterday, parents should have had the option of sending their kids today. Racial disputes can escalate and in light of the death of a friend to many, emotions are higher.

I do hope metal detectors are put in to prevent guns and knives from being brought in, as we all know this could have ended very very differently.

FROM DAVE ESTROP's Office

Sadly, as some of you may know, a student at Lakewood High School passed away this morning following a long illness. As one might expect, this caused considerable emotional pain for many students at Lakewood High School. Unfortunately, yesterday in the midst of this developing tragedy, some very inappropriate comments were allegedly made by a student or students at the high school regarding this situation. Last evening, we began to receive calls, as did the Lakewood Police Department, saying that because of these inappropriate comments that there were going to be problems at Lakewood High School today. 

Given these general threats and the already emotional atmosphere at Lakewood High School, we activated the District’s Crisis Counseling Teams and took steps to heighten security with the cooperation and assistance of Lakewood Police Department. Upon entering the building this morning, all Lakewood High School students were subject to a search by school personnel.

I am pleased to report that nothing related to the rumors was found. Parents who inquired were told that they could excuse their child from school today and that it would be regarded as an excused absence. 

However, school is in full session, classes are being held, and the Crisis Team is attending to the needs of students. In making this decision this morning to heighten security, we thought it was in the best interest of students and staff to make sure that we had taken additional steps to provide them with a safe and secure learning environment. Most of the students and parents that I talked with were appreciative of the additional precautionary steps that we took.  

The District’s investigation continues into the rumors, appropriate disciplinary action for the students involved will be taken, and we will continue to monitor the situation and make our Crisis Counselors available, as needed. 


For further information contact:
Dr. David Estrop, Superintendent of Schools 216/ 529-4092

Suzanne

Who would have ever thought you would go here.

Go back and read my post and then read yours. They are nearly the same. But maybe, just maybe I have heard waaaaaaay to much about the warning system, and the automatic telephone system to notify parents when situation like this occur.

Maybe it was me getting the calls from mothers, about the "bomb threat", the "shooting" "the dead student" "the fight" "the words." Now I do not have kids, but the parents I talked to knew NOTHING about this. They were not given the option of dropping their kids off or not. They dropped their kids off and the rumor mill started. Parents, rumors and even truths NEED TO BE VETTED. How else do we find out truth and SPIN?

My heart goes out to parents that were left hanging. Drop your kids off? Pick them up? How many times has this scenario played out completely different?

While I understand your current anger with the LO. Would it have been different to let these rumors fester over phone lines and back fences? Story started at 9, and sorted by 10:30.

Again, I stand by my post. If we paid for an early calling system, I would have to think yesterday might have been better than snow, or the RELEASE that I just posted at 11:10am!

I pay more, I expect more.

Or is it that with Ryan out of the race, threats, guns, fights at LHS are now no longer an issue?


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A proactive approach could be very helpful here. This is a situation that can spark some very open and constructive dialog with the students and the community at large about the consequences of racism and violence.

The racism issues need to be dealt with.

About 10 to 12 years ago, there was a huge problem at LHS with white kids fighting with Arabic kids. I had a daughter and a son at LHS who were friends with all. This was a very painful and frightening episode that was diffused by open discussions with Lakewood residents about racism and the problems that is causes. LHS worked on this issue also and the violence decreased.

There was a community potluck where students and residents attended, and food was brought by all and shared. We sat down at tables with each other to start open dialog. It was wonderful and I wish it continued.

I met a lot of wonderful people who I never would have met under other circumstances.

Fact:

the Lakewood Observer is a citizen based tabloid that allows the use of unvetted sources to create news where there is none.

Ryan Demro lost, Jim - get over it. He's certainly way over you.

You bet on the wrong horse.

i'm on the phone with a message of Dr.Estrop's office.

It is reassuring that the school and the administration is on top of threats and rumors within the halls of LHS.

sharon kinsella wrote: There was a community potluck where students and residents attended, and food was brought by all and shared. We sat down at tables with each other to start open dialog. It was wonderful and I wish it continued.

I met a lot of wonderful people who I never would have met under other circumstances.

I would not be surprised to see a renewal of this type of event.