Dear Needham Families: At approximately 7:45 a.m. this morning, the Needham High School received an automated "robocall" bomb threat. The high school administration followed our established protocols and immediately began working with Needham police and fire officers who, in turn, worked with state public safety officials to assess the situation. It was determined fairly quickly that this was a low level threat. Approximately 12 other school districts received a similar call this morning. Students remained in classes and carried on with their regular schedule. Within an hour, and after over a dozen public safety officers and school administrators swept the campus, the police determined that the building was safe and classes and the school day could continue to proceed as normal. A few Needham police officers will remain on campus today to provide a presence and reassure students and staff. Thanks to the police and fire departments for their swift and exceptional efforts, action, and guidance this morning. The school district's ongoing and collaborative efforts with Needham Police and Fire around student safety certainly paid off today. We are always in capable hands when Needham's public safety officials are involved. Thanks also to Dr. Barnes, the high school administration, clerical staff, teachers, and other staff members who responded quickly and calmly to the situation. The district's Human Resource Director Tom Campbell and I assisted the high school staff, and we were both incredibly impressed with the demeanor, poise, and good spirit of teachers and students who seemed annoyed that anything would disrupt their day. Clearly, a strong, vibrant, and resilient culture exists at NHS! Thanks for your ongoing support and, as always, let me know if you have a question or comment. I can be reached at: dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us Sincerely, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools