Dear Watertown Public Schools Faculty, Families and Students,
It has come to my attention that an article has been published in the Republican AM this morning that singles out Watertown and Waterbury Public Schools as the target of alleged school shooting threats by an alumni student.
Please be advised that the school district followed all safety protocols in notifying the Watertown Police Department as soon as we became aware of the alleged statement made by the individual in question and the WPD immediately started their protocols to investigate the credibility of the allegations and statements made as soon as they were reported.
Watertown has been in close contact with the Watertown Police Department as they have been moving through their investigation and process in addressing the situation.
Safety of our students, faculty and families is our number one priority each and every day. As a school district we have strict protocols in place for identifying possible threats, even if we are unsure if they are substantive or not in order to report them directly to emergency personnel who immediately spring into action and a deeper course/process of investigation than the public schools can. We are thankful for the strong and close relationship the WPS has with the Watertown Police Department as these process are instantaneous as soon as they are put into motion.
In addition, please be advised that Watertown Public Schools and the Watertown Police Department work in coordination to apply legal restrictions on individuals who may demonstrate suspicious behaviors or unwanted behaviors so they are restricted from all school property and activities.
Out of an abundance of caution, Watertown High School will have additional WPD presence on campus today as we have been advised and notified that we may engage in a regular school day.
Finally, as your Superintendent and as a parent myself of three young children, the worst headline any parent or educator can read in a newspaper is that their child's school may be the target of school shooting. Too many times have we read in the paper or heard in the news, or more devastatingly remember that very day in Newtown.
I can just imagine the emotions you all may have felt as you opened the paper this morning.
Please know that there is absolutely "no cutting corners" when it comes to safety in our school district. You have an administrative team, a safety team, a community of emergency personnel/responders, and state related agencies who have wide scopes of emergency protocol/communication access who are trained to react and respond immediately in times of emergency and or possible threat.
We do everything we can to keep our ear to the ground and be aware of information that may be floating among students, parents, the wider community of people going about a regular day. We get lots of information and reports about a myriad of topics and have a systematic way of communicating anything that may be a concern or potentially credible. And as soon as we get any type of information or report, we follow intensive protocols to determine whether these threats are credible or not, immediate or not.
Once again, out of an abundance of caution, Watertown High School will have additional WPD presence on campus today and all other schools will have increased patrol as we have been advised and notified that we may engage in a regular school day. Although it is not anticipated, if there are any changes to the regular day, a message will be sent out.
I thank you for your continued partnership and vigilance in keeping our school district safe.
Dr. V