March 18, 2003

Dear Parents,

Given the current direction of world events, specifically the possibility of military action against Iraq, I thought I would take a moment and let you know what Fishkill Elementary School has planned in the case of a credible threat in the area. Of course, this plan is subject to change based on the nature of the security threat. The safety of your children is my utmost priority.

Here are a few things to remember:

There is a single point of entry into the school (the front door). Should the National Threat Level be raised to RED, I will lock the front door and visitors will be greeted and asked to state the nature of their visit. Field trips outside the district will be cancelled, the school will be closed to evening activities, and daytime events that open the school to outsiders may also be cancelled. Recess may or may not be cancelled depending on the nature of the threat.

If there is an event similar in nature to that of September 11th, I encourage parents to let their children remain in school to attempt to maintain a degree of normalcy within the building for the students. If you feel it is in your child's best interest to sign them out of school, please remember the front entrance is off limits to cars and please park accordingly. It is important to remember that I will not release students to anyone who is not listed on the emergency forms you provided to us. If you would like to update that information, please do so immediately in writing.

If events warrant a full "lock-down" of the building, all non-essential movement is restricted and no one is allowed to enter or leave any of the school buildings. Parents will not be allowed to pick up children until the threat has subsided. Presumably, it would be unsafe to have any student or parent movement around the school. It is important to ensure the safety of both the students and adults.

In the event of an emergency, we will post all pertinent information on our phone system 897-6780 (Option 2) and Fishkill's web site at wappingersschools.org/fishkill/default/html. Please try to avoid calling the school directly. Phone calls from five hundred parents, as well as necessary personnel, will tie up the phone lines.

It is not our intention to create undue anxiety within the community. It is our hope to keep you well informed. I thank you, in advance, for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Andrew T. McNally, Principal