School and district officials executed all of the Department of Education’s safety protocols after a threat was phoned into the St. Croix Educational Complex Thursday morning, but families on a Zoom call Thursday evening were encouraged to help quell some of the violence by talking to their children at home.
While compact classes were not disrupted Thursday, though the school was locked down and an increased layer of security added, VIDE Director of School Safety Irvin Mason Sr. said that students should know that generally, major interruptions and learning are a consequence of continued fighting and threats, such as the one called in. Thursday’s incident was preceded by fights on at least three school campuses since public schools re-opened for fall session last week, he added.
On campuses, school monitors were trained throughout the summer and also did a territorial retreat on drills and de-escalation tactics, but Mason stressed that support also needs to come at home.
The all-clear was given at Complex around 12 p.m. Thursday, after the V.I. Police Department had conducted a sweep and added additional police presence.
