Friday evening, November 2, 2007 Dear Parents and Guardians: Please allow me to share with you how pleased and proud I am of our staff and students who reacted so quickly and calmly this afternoon during the lockdown of our schools. All of our students were safe and everyone got home as quickly and safely as possible after dismissals began. As you may know by now, Police Chief Tom Leary contacted me in the afternoon to notify me that the police were investigating a homicide near Great Plain and Elmwood. The suspect, apparently, had fled the scene on foot, and the chief and I decided it was necessary to institute a schoolwide lockdown so the police could search the area. We did not want students leaving school and being caught up in what was quickly becoming a major incident and manhunt. Shortly after we implemented the lockdown, a second incident involving a different suspect in the center of town resulted in the Needham and state police responding on two fronts. Each principal was notified quickly, and with great skill and purpose they implemented the appropriate lockdown procedures. Staff and teachers performed at an exceptional level as they followed the protocol and ensured the safety and security of our students. (My lockdown instructions to Hillside and Eliot resulted in a minor miscommunication, but all Needham Public Schools students were safe and the buildings were secured.) At approximately 4:00 p.m. Chief Leary contacted me to tell me that both suspects had been apprehended and it was safe to end the lockdown and proceed with dismissal. While there was additional traffic at the schools by this time, the buses did make their rounds and all students got home as quickly as possible. The principals, central office staff, and police chief met this evening to debrief and review our lockdown and communication procedures. Additionally, Town Manger Kate Fitzpatrick, her staff, and I met throughout the afternoon to coordinate efforts. The schools will be ready on Monday to provide support students may need to cope with this tragedy. We are particularly mindful of any families and students from the Broadmeadow neighborhood who may know the family or friends involved. Our goal on Monday will be to have a routine school day, but we will provide whatever support may be appropriate and necessary. If you have a specific concern about your child's response to the incident or the lockdown, please notify the principal or your child's guidance counselor. The school administration and staff, in close collaboration with the town's emergency services, will continue to review our practices and procedures to ensure student safety and security. We will continue to ensure a thoughtful, coordinated, and responsive plan is in place for school safety and then hope that we never have to implement it again. Many, many thanks to Chief Leary, the Needham Police, the Town Manager's administrative staff, and the teaching, clerical, support, and administrative staff of the Needham Public Schools who are incredibly caring professionals dedicated to the town and our students. Thanks also to parents who helped out and very patiently awaited news and information during a long, anxious afternoon. Finally, please know that your sons and daughters were simply terrific. All of the principals were impressed with the respectful, calm, and patient demeanor they exhibited. No small task on a late Friday afternoon! One high school student waved to me and said: "It was a breeze. We knew what to do." Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the victims. Thank you. Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools