HIGH SCHOOL 132 Main Street
Christie Jernigan Assistant Principal
RICHMOND MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL 132 Main Street Richmond, Maine 04357 2077374348 FAX: 2077378707 Nicholas Gannon Jennifer Waterman Principal School Counselor/Guidance
March 9, 2018 Dear Richmond Students and Parents/Guardians: March 9th Incident: As you may know, today we had an incident in which a student made a generalized threat against the school. There is not now, and there was not at the time, any immediate threat to any students or staff. Appropriate school and legal consequences were determined. I would like to thank those students and staff that quickly alerted the office. School administration worked with the Richmond Police Department to assess the situation. I would like to thank Officer Christopher Giles for his prompt and professional response. These challenging situations to manage, but it is great to know that we are all looking out for one another. This makes Richmond a very special community. March 14th Event: Despite this particular incident we intended to distribute the following information regarding the March 14th student demonstration and the creation of a Richmond Schools Safety Committee. In light of recent tragedies and the nationally coordinated effort for a student demonstration on March 14th, we have planned to accommodate a school safety demonstration. We have made efforts to allow for this event in a safe, productive, and positive way. We welcome the students’ efforts to be engaged in the discussion of this complicated and important topic. Students are encouraged to engage in positive and productive discussion about school safety with their peers and to be good listeners with those who may have opposing views. This event is permitted with the understanding that the event not disrupt instruction or other school activities throughout the day. From 10:0010:17am on March 14th, students will be permitted to exit the building to congregate in the staff/student parking lot. The Richmond Police Department will be assisting in order limit traffic to the front circle and provide assistance in supervising students. No student is required to participate and any student choosing not to participate can remain in their scheduled classroom with their teacher. This event is for students only. In an effort to ensure the safety of our students, any other member of the community is kindly asked to refrain from entering the school campus at that time. Any outside visitors will be directed to the main office. In addition to this event, it is important that we are able to have an ongoing and productive dialogue. We encourage students to seek out advisors, office staff, or your trusted adult to facilitate discussions about school safety. Richmond Schools Safety Committee: We are currently making efforts to better coordinate our school safety protocols, plans, and procedures. As is typical practice in other school systems, we are establishing a Richmond Schools Safety Committee. The work of the committee typically includes: the district/town crisis plan, emergency drills,managing medical emergencies, threat protocols, coordinating crisis management, building security measures, and submitted grants for related to school safety. Committees of this type are usually made up of school administrators, local/county law enforcement, local fire department officials, emergency management personnel, other school staff, and, in our case, a student representative. A process has begun for identifying the role of a student on this committee and the selection process. More information will be available soon for those students that may be interested in taking part in this important work. Respectfully Yours, Nicholas Gannon, Principal
RICHMOND MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL 132 Main Street Richmond, Maine 04357 2077374348 FAX: 2077378707 Nicholas Gannon Jennifer Waterman Principal School Counselor/Guidance
March 9, 2018 Dear Richmond Students and Parents/Guardians: March 9th Incident: As you may know, today we had an incident in which a student made a generalized threat against the school. There is not now, and there was not at the time, any immediate threat to any students or staff. Appropriate school and legal consequences were determined. I would like to thank those students and staff that quickly alerted the office. School administration worked with the Richmond Police Department to assess the situation. I would like to thank Officer Christopher Giles for his prompt and professional response. These challenging situations to manage, but it is great to know that we are all looking out for one another. This makes Richmond a very special community. March 14th Event: Despite this particular incident we intended to distribute the following information regarding the March 14th student demonstration and the creation of a Richmond Schools Safety Committee. In light of recent tragedies and the nationally coordinated effort for a student demonstration on March 14th, we have planned to accommodate a school safety demonstration. We have made efforts to allow for this event in a safe, productive, and positive way. We welcome the students’ efforts to be engaged in the discussion of this complicated and important topic. Students are encouraged to engage in positive and productive discussion about school safety with their peers and to be good listeners with those who may have opposing views. This event is permitted with the understanding that the event not disrupt instruction or other school activities throughout the day. From 10:0010:17am on March 14th, students will be permitted to exit the building to congregate in the staff/student parking lot. The Richmond Police Department will be assisting in order limit traffic to the front circle and provide assistance in supervising students. No student is required to participate and any student choosing not to participate can remain in their scheduled classroom with their teacher. This event is for students only. In an effort to ensure the safety of our students, any other member of the community is kindly asked to refrain from entering the school campus at that time. Any outside visitors will be directed to the main office. In addition to this event, it is important that we are able to have an ongoing and productive dialogue. We encourage students to seek out advisors, office staff, or your trusted adult to facilitate discussions about school safety. Richmond Schools Safety Committee: We are currently making efforts to better coordinate our school safety protocols, plans, and procedures. As is typical practice in other school systems, we are establishing a Richmond Schools Safety Committee. The work of the committee typically includes: the district/town crisis plan, emergency drills,managing medical emergencies, threat protocols, coordinating crisis management, building security measures, and submitted grants for related to school safety. Committees of this type are usually made up of school administrators, local/county law enforcement, local fire department officials, emergency management personnel, other school staff, and, in our case, a student representative. A process has begun for identifying the role of a student on this committee and the selection process. More information will be available soon for those students that may be interested in taking part in this important work. Respectfully Yours, Nicholas Gannon, Principal
