March 25, 2024
Dear Arkport Parents and Guardians:
On March 7, 2024, a lockdown occurred which served as a harsh reminder that our district is not immune to threats. While I am proud that our school community has not had to experience regular lockdowns, this also means that a lockdown is a new experience for a whole group of students, faculty, staff, and families.
I would like to take this opportunity to guide you through the events that took place on March 7. I want to provide a clear timeline that demonstrates every minute of that afternoon had purpose and was necessary for the safety of every child.
Timeline of Events (All times are approximate):
*Times removed in accordance with our district safety plan
*A member of the administration was made aware of a threat against the school.
*A district employee activated the emergency management system placing the district in lockdown.
Every faculty and staff member can initiate a lockdown from any office or classroom in the district.
*A district employee called 911.
When an employee initiates a lockdown, the school emergency system automatically calls 911.
At 2:34 PM, a call was made to 911 in addition to the automatic call. Law enforcement has instructed us to call 911, if possible, so that we can provide any information that may assist them in assessing and dealing with the situation.
*The student who made the threat was isolated by administration.
*NYS Troopers arrived at the school.
2:50 PM
The district sent the first all-call message to faculty, staff, and caregivers.
Message:
"The Arkport CSD is currently in lockdown. More information will be shared as soon as possible. Dismissal of students is currently on hold."
The district ensures that every message it sends out is worded to provide the most accurate information possible. During an emergency, it's better to provide less information that is reliable rather than send out information that might be incorrect or subject to sudden changes.
4:07 PM
The lockdown ended and the district moved to a hold-in-place.
There have been several questions regarding the period between the initiation of the lockdown at 2:32 PM and the start of the hold-in-place at 4:07 PM. The district understands that waiting for more than an hour and a half for updates was frustrating. However, it's important to note that the New York State Police and the Steuben County Sheriff's office were actively investigating the threat made against the school.
The district moved to a hold-in-place as soon as possible. The decision of when to move to a hold-in-place was made in conjunction with law enforcement.
4:50 PM
All-call sent out to faculty, staff, and caregivers regarding student dismissal.
The process of reuniting students with their parents or guardians involved joint efforts by the district and the State Police. The process was slow because it required verifying the identity of each student and matching them with an authorized adult.
The district acknowledges that the process of dismissing students could have been communicated more clearly to caregivers. It should have been said that buses would not depart until every parent who arrived at the school had picked up their child. In the future, any communication regarding the reunification of students with their guardians will include this important information.
5:45 PM
All the students had exited the building.
7:10 PM
All-call message sent out to faculty, staff, and caregivers regarding the day’s events.
While I wish that the district never has to experience another lockdown again, unfortunately, it is something that is beyond our control. I hope that you all find comfort in knowing that your students are being taken care of by a devoted team of adults every day.
If you have any unanswered questions regarding the March 7 lockdown, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 607-295-7471 x1316 or by email at jharper@arkportcsd.org.
Sincerely,
Jesse Harper
Superintendent of Schools
Arkport Central School District