Numerous ACPS Schools Swatted

Today was a trying day for many ACPS students and educators as three separate ACPS schools experienced situations which required APD response. I did my best to compile a timeline of the events below:

• Late this morning/early afternoon someone called APD and threatened to “shoot up” Charles Barrett Elementary.

• Barrett went on “secure the building” status after being alerted by APD at 12:14pm. (1)

• APD gets another call (exact time unknown), this time with a bomb threat to Charles Barrett & at around 12:20 pm Barrett decides to evacuate the kids to their primary evacuation site (Parc East Apartment lobby), and ACPS staff sent buses early to the school to transport the kids to Cora Kelly. (2)

• Around 1pm APD sends out a tweet about the threat (3).

• Just before 2pm the incident is listed on at least 4-5 local news media sites (AlexNow, Patch, etc), and then ACPS alerts the Barrett parents to the situation (Barrett Principal sends out message); Barrett parents are told they may pick their children up beginning at 2pm with photo ID. (1, 4, 5)

• ~ 2:15pm Cora Kelly receives a bomb threat - at this point, the Cora Kelly & Barrett students and Barrett Parents who had arrived were ushered inside Cora Kelly and the school is placed on “lockdown status”. - Shortly after, Cora Kelly principal notified families about the threat/“lockdown status”. (6)

• At 4:24pm the APD tweeted that a parent had contacted them this afternoon (time unknown) that “something” may be happening at GW Middle School. The SRO investigated and advised there was no threat. At some point a notification was sent out that the APD was assisting in the school’s dismissal. (7,)

Photo 1: Screenshot of notification from George Washington Middle School administrators.

• The threats have been cleared and news outlets are calling it a “hoax”. (8, 9)

• Around 8pm APD uploads a news release to Twitter stating that the incidents at Chares Barrett and Cora Kell Elementary Schools were swatting incidents. If you are unfamiliar with what swatting is please click this link on swatting to learn more. (10)

• As of the publishing of this article ACPS leadership has yet to make a formal statement about the incidents today.

First and foremost, it's clear that today was traumatic for so many educators, families, and students, but we are happy that there was ultimately no threat and all students were safe.

A major reason why our students were safe were because of the hero educators and administrators at Charles Barrett, Cora Kelly, and George Washington. Educators at those three schools spent their days and afternoons messaging their students’ families and ensuring students made it to their safe destinations. But through it all, our educators showed grace under pressure while caring for the most precious among us and making them feel as safe as possible.

Once they ensured students were calm and in their designated safe locations, they communicated with hundreds of families to make sure their students made it home. As someone who has seen evacuations like this I cannot stress how much of a logistical nightmare it is to deal with dismissal, and these educators went above and beyond today.

I really do not know how else our educators can prove they deserve to be paid more, but if today's events don't solidify that fact in the eyes of our School Board and Administrators then they need to reevaluate why they are leading this school system to begin with. Dealing with bomb threats are not a part of educators' job descriptions, yet they dealt with this without complaint and to a standard higher than some emergency response groups. So if our educators can go above and beyond the call of duty like this why does our leadership chose to undervalue them time and time again? And if school "culture" is what we need to focus on instead of pay, just as the central office and Superintendent have stated, why have they not said anything yet?

-Alex's Pen

REFERENCES

1.) BREAKING: Charles Barrett Elementary evacuated and Cora Kelly on lockdown due to threats | ALXnow

2.) Elementary School in Alexandria evacuated after bomb threat; After school activities canceled (yahoo.com)

3.) (1) Alexandria Police on X: "ALERT: There is a heavy police presence at Charles Barrett Elementary School at 1115 Martha Custis Drive. APD officers are investigating a threat made against the school. All students and personnel are being evacuated out of an abundance of caution. https://t.co/5jDuhNydQ2" / X (twitter.com)

4.) ACPS Handles Multiple Incidents Friday at Schools, Central Office | Del Ray, VA Patch

5.) Charles Barrett Elementary School evacuated after bomb threat: police (fox5dc.com)

6.) DMV schools on lockdown, evacuated after reported threats | wusa9.com

7.) (1) Alexandria Police on X: "This afternoon, a parent contacted APD with concern that something may be happening at George Washington Middle School. Our communications center immediately contacted the School Resource Officer on school grounds. The officer investigated & advised there was no threat." / X (twitter.com)

8.) Swatting Calls Cause Lockdown, Evacuation At Alexandria Schools | Del Ray, VA Patch

9.) Alexandria Police Department Investigates False Threats on Schools as Swatting   | City of Alexandria, VA (alexandriava.gov)

10.) (1) Alexandria Police on X: "News Release: APD is investigating the false threats made on two Alexandria Public Schools today as swatting. No threat or danger was present. Federal authorities offer to support the investigation. https://t.co/BZR68wrHih" / X (twitter.com)

Swatting: What Is Swatting? Definition and How to Prevent It. (businessinsider.com)