patching...
Update: The next chapter of your community's story begins with a single voice. Yours. Blog on Patch. »
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Lockdown

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Lockdown at Elementary and Middle School Draws Ire from Parents

Parents of students at Magill Elementary and Grace Snell Middle say schools should do more to inform parents of what's going on during a lockdown.

After the frightening lockdown at Magill Elementary and Grace Snell Middle on the afternoon of Jan. 9, parents are calling for schools to communicate more openly during a time of crisis.  Patch reader Garrett Cronnelly posted the following comment on the original story: "To Magill Elementary Administrators: While we felt secure that our children were being protected by procedures and their teachers, we felt that the lack of communication from Magill and Grace Snell Administrators for 1 1/2 hours from the school was ridiculous and terrifying.  A simple recorded message would have been sufficient to calm our fears. Yet over 30 phone calls (neither school answered any of my repeated calls) and countless conversations with neighbors FINALLY …

Comment_arrow

Justin Rempe

9:48 am on Friday, January 11, 2013

Craig, I feel you are missing a very important aspect to the lockdown scenario. Dozens of vehicles continued to arrive at JC Magill "AFTER" the school was locked down, putting many more lives potentially into harm's way. I know this because my wife and youngest child were among those to arrive "AFTER" the lockdown, but before the police blocked entry and exit to the pickup area. An immediate text…   more ›

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

UPDATE: J.C. Magill and Grace Snell Middle Lockdown Lifted

UPDATE: Lockdown lifted - buses are running late. Lockdown was precautionary due to police activity.

UPDATE: 4:50 per Gwinnett County PD PIO Jake Smith. There was a report of gunfire near the school.  Officers are still investigating, but it seems to have been teenagers with fireworks.  If that changes, I’ll issue a statement. UPDATE: From Gwinnett County Public Schools spokesman Jorge Quintana The school went into lockdown earlier this afternoon shortly before 3:20 p.m. as a precaution due to police activity outside of the school. The lockdown was lifted at aropund 4:15 p.m. This means that students will be coming home a little later than usual this evening as buses were delayed. The delay also affects some students from Grace Snell MS as use the same school buses for both schools.  Quintana asked that parents be advised that the school …

Megan Elizabeth Arlitz

6:19 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013

I am glad that they did good, but then I don't think it's fair that we were left in the dark not knowing what was going on. Friends calling friends that are high up found out. They again could of done a pre recorded message, like Garret Cronnelly said.   more ›

Got a Hot Tip?
 
 

Videos