'Very Vague' Notice To Sandburg Middle School Parents

ELMHURST, IL – A Sandburg Middle School parent told the school board Monday that families received little information about a possible threat earlier this month.

The parent, Tracy Lewis, described the notice from the school’s principal as “very vague.”

Notices about threats typically are emailed to families, but not the media. Patch has struggled to get such correspondence, even though the messages go to hundreds of parents.

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During the public comment period at the meeting, Lewis said the Sept. 10 notice to parents essentially said, “Something went on during the day, your children are safe (and) if you have any concerns, please reach out to us.”

“The incident in question involved the police coming to the school,” Lewis said.

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The eighth-grade rumor mill, she said, had parents believing a “shoot-up” was threatened the next day, which was Sept. 11.

Lewis said she heard from parents that the notice was unclear and lacked sufficient details. The message, she said, did not inform families that police had already been on site.

“I know we don’t want names (of students), but I do want to know the police were aware of the situation the following day and that the (school) resource officers are on the up and up and know what’s going on,” Lewis said.

Following its policy, the board did not respond to Lewis’ comments, at least during the meeting.

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Last Wednesday, Patch asked Elmhurst School District 205’s spokeswoman, Tonya Daniels, about a possible notification to Churchville Middle School parents on a perceived threat.

Daniels did not respond, so Patch filed a formal public records request a day later. (Daniels provided the documents late Tuesday night, after the school board meeting. Patch plans a follow-up story.)

Last week, Patch asked Hinsdale High School District 86’s spokesman, Alex Mayster, for a notice to Hinsdale South parents about a possible threat on campus. He provided the message to Patch within a couple of hours.

Schools around the country have received more threats in recent weeks.


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