The privately-run School of the Nations, in George-town, has decided against resuming classes today in order to address continuing concerns by parents about security measures in light of the recent threat to students that was made on Facebook.
The decision was announced at a meeting yesterday afternoon in the school’s auditorium, where parents questioned the school’s administrators about an emergency response plan in the event of a shooting.
The threat to students was made via Facebook on Saturday night and police and cybersecurity experts have been trying to locate the individual responsible. Concerns intensified after the school’s Principal, Dr Brian O’Toole, was shot in an attack at his home on Sunday night. It is not yet clear whether the attack was linked to any threat.
Private security guards from Delta Security and Sherriff Security were deployed at the school yesterday. The guards from Delta Security were observed carrying out security checks on persons who entered the compound. Others from Sheriff Security were seen both in and out of the school compound.
Chief Executive Officer of the school, Dr Dexter Phillips informed the meeting that a complete sweep of the campus was done by the Delta Security group yesterday morning and no foreign object was found on the school’s premises. He noted that they have also requested that ranks of the police force be present in the area during school hours.
However, with parents not satisfied with the responses to their questions offered by Phillips, it was suggested to the school administration that today be used to formulate a clear emergency response plan, to implement security measures to minimise the risk of a shooting and to put systems in place to deal with the welfare of the children. The parents asked the school to address those concerns before reopening its doors. They also recommended that the school consult with security experts on the way forward and work along with them to craft an emergency plan.
“If somebody child lose their life, you cannot do anything to give them their child back. As parents, we are all concerned and we don’t feel you are prepared to handle the reopening of the school. All you are saying is that we will have school tomorrow and systems are in place. What are the systems?” a parent asked.
“If the person comes through the gate and place a gun to the security guard, what system is in place to deal with such?” another concerned parent questioned.
“When I listen to this discussion, it sound like a dolly house. We are dealing with a real threat. Somebody could come with a gun and they could shoot up the children. So, because of that, sir, the school has to get a better plan to solve everybody concern,” a parent pointed out.
After parents kept asking for clarity on the security measures in place and expressing their fears that the school was not prepared to resume classes, Phillips took a two-minute break and conferred with other officials of the school administration. On the resumption of the meeting, he announced that they had decided to keep the school closed for a second day.
At the beginning of the meeting, Phillips had announced that the school would be re-opening today, after it cancelled classes on Monday.
At an emergency meeting on Sunday afternoon, Co-Founder and Principal O’Toole had announced that school was in session and it would have been at the parents’ discretion to keep their children home.
However, O’Toole was attacked by a gunman on Sunday night and shot twice. In light of that incident, the administration decided to close the school’s doors on Monday.
Parents were informed yesterday morning that classes were cancelled. “In light of recent unfortunate events, we wish to advise that our school will be closed today, Monday, January 28, 2019 as we assess our current security measures with an objective to ensuring that our students, staff and premises are safe and secure,” the school wrote in a Facebook post.
A threat was made to the student body on Saturday in an anonymous post on the
Facebook page ‘Nations Trollololololo.’. The post stated, “…I’ve been doing this for a long time, but you give attention for some jokester instead of me… I’m tired of life. Before I go out I want to give a message to all of you, it’s my final gift to this ****hole of a school…If you feel life was “surreal” I will show what reality is next week. You all looked down on me this past year, without a shred of recognition. Everyone will know me now. If you even have an iota of care for this world, don’t bother showing up next week….” The post was accompanied by photos of a hand holding a gun as well as a bottle with the insinuation that chemicals were inside.
When asked the status of the investigation by US cybersecurity experts and Facebook to locate the person responsible for the anonymous post, Phillips informed parents that he could not disclose the information.
The post was made days after a student was expelled for threatening to “shoot up” the school. That student was questioned by the police and has since claimed that the threat was a joke.
At the meeting
yesterday, parents were also told that the school has plans to speak to the children and offer counselling to those affected when they return to school.
“Counselling will be done. We will speak to the children in different languages and explain what is happening. We will not have a general meeting with all students, we will do it by levels,” an official from the school said when asked about plans in place to assist the children.
One parent suggested that the school creates a drill to demonstrate to students what will be required of them in case of an attack.
A parent also raised concerns about children being bullied at the school and questioned whether that could be responsible for the threats. “Nations has a terrible reputation of having a culture of bullying at the secondary level. This child claims victimisation, the one who is posting… We have to deal with the emotional and social well-being of these children and address the issue of bullying. Please let me know that that is something that will also be addressed,” the concerned mother said, while calling on the administration to educate parents on the school’s plans to address the issue at the next meeting.
Motive unclear
Meanwhile, O’Toole was yesterday recovering at a private city hospital from the gunshot wounds he sustained in the previous night’s attack. He underwent surgery yesterday to repair the wounds he suffered in the shooting.
In a Facebook post, O’Toole wrote, “I wanted to share this update as inevitably a lot of things are being said. I am in the hospital, very well treated by the staff and getting the best possible treatment.”
He added, “There were three bullets fired at me. I was struck by two of them. One did minor damage on the right arm and the other was more serious on the left where the bone was badly damaged. I am getting better and will likely be in the hospital for a few days.”
Police, in a statement yesterday, said the shooting occurred at about 9.45 pm on Sunday night after O’Toole had entered his residence at Bel Air Promenade and finished securing his gate.
As he was making his way to the front door of the house, police said, he was confronted by a male, who pointed a gun at him and discharged three rounds, two of which struck him to his forearms. His wife, after hearing the gunshots, rushed to the door and found her bleeding husband.
The motive for the shooting remained undetermined and no arrest had been made yesterday.
