The STEM Weekly Stream
STEM Academy Family Newsletter
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - SCHOOL SAFETY UPDATE
Thursday, March 30
Please read the message below from Dr. Parkinson regarding increased safety measures at school tomorrow.
Dear Chester Upland School District Parents and Families--
We would like to inform families that all schools within the Chester Upland School District will be open and follow a normal schedule on Thursday, March 30. Families should be aware that a greater police presence will be noticeable at every school tomorrow due to a "swatting" call that the district received targeting one of our schools. Please do not be alarmed if you see additional law enforcement vehicles around our schools. We want to assure you that the safety of our students, staff, and community is our top priority, and we are taking this situation very seriously.
Swatting is the action or practice of making a prank call to emergency services in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police officers to a particular address. Unfortunately, dozens of school districts in the state of Pennsylvania have received similar calls today. While we do not believe the threat to be credible, we are working closely with local law enforcement to investigate and identify the source of the threat.
We would like to encourage parents to talk to their children about the seriousness of prank calls or threats. It is important that our students understand that these actions are not only illegal but also extremely dangerous and can have serious consequences. We also ask that you encourage your children to report anything they may hear or see that appears to be suspicious or threatening. Together, we can help keep our schools safe.
We understand that situations like this can be concerning for parents and families, but we want to assure you that we are doing everything in our power to ensure the safety of our students and staff. In order to effectively secure our buildings, we will also be restricting visitor access on all school premises. Additionally, students who exit school grounds before dismissal must be accompanied by an adult before reentry will be granted.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
Sincerely,
Dr. Craig Parkinson - Superintendent of Schools
Contact STEM
Email: bbell@chesteruplandsd.org
Website: https://www.chesteruplandsd.org/sas
Location: 1100 West 10th Street, Chester, PA, USA
Phone: 610-447-3650