Those in the Hastings school district know there have been a series of threatening messages found in the building complex of Hastings High School and Farragut Middle School. One of the messages — a bomb threat — resulted in a recent evacuation.

In response, school officials approved the installation of surveillance cameras and said they would consider extending the school day to make up for lost instructional time.

It turns out the person allegedly writing these messages was a cafeteria employee, 26-year-old Pedro Dulcio.

Seriously, man. Do you really have nothing better to do? Grow up!

Click here for the full story and read on for letters sent to the community by Hastings schools superintendent Robert I. Shaps.

February 16, 2008

Dear Hastings Parents and/or Guardians,

Today, I have been informed by the Hastings Chief of Police Thomas O’Sullivan that an employee of Aramark Educational Services, the school district’s food service contractor, has been charged with a Class D felony in connection with the recent bomb threat that resulted in the evacuation of the Farragut Complex.  It has also been determined that this individual is responsible for numerous similar-like threats to the Complex which occurred over the last several months.

While I am thankful that members of the Hastings Police Department have apprehended the individual responsible for creating an atmosphere of fear and mistrust, I am saddened to think that a member of our school community would engage in such a senseless act endangering the lives of children and adults.  I can only hope that students and staff will, once being aware of this information, see the seriousness of this individual’s actions and understand that not only will the culprit or culprits be apprehended but that there are consequences associated with this type of wrongdoing.

On behalf of the Board of Education, our administrators, students and staff, I would like to personally thank the Hastings Police for their level of professionalism and diligence as they worked tirelessly to apprehend the individual responsible for these crimes.

Sincerely,

Robert I. Shaps
Superintendent of Schools

February 8, 2008

Dear Parents/Guardians:

This week alone we discovered two threatening messages that led us to contact the Hastings Police Department, one of which caused an evacuation of the Farragut Complex.

We are deeply concerned about the serious nature and the frequency of these incidents.  Not only does this irresponsible and unsafe behavior place undo hardship on our Village police and fire departments, but they are felonious acts that disrupt our ability to focus and educate students.

While we will continue to work in close partnership with the Hastings Police Department and County law enforcement officials to fully investigate the causes of these evacuations, we will also explore all possible avenues to reduce the likelihood of future threats as part of our ongoing efforts to provide a safe environment for all students, faculty and staff.

To this end, the Board of Education has approved the installation of surveillance cameras which we will have in place and recording when students return from Midwinter Recess.  While it is our hope that these cameras will serve as a strong enough deterrent, please keep in mind that if we continue to receive or discover any future communications of a threatening nature, our next step will be to seriously consider extending the school day in order to make up for lost instructional time.

As always, please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or concerns.  Your continued support is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Robert I. Shaps
Superintendent of Schools