Schools in the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) remain open today. All SUSD after-school, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities have been canceled for this afternoon and evening. Parents were asked to check with private after-school-care providers to determine whether those programs will be held today. Tonight’s scheduled meeting of the Governing Board has been canceled.

These actions were taken in response to the reported terrorist attacks across the country.

“School is the safest place for our children today,” said Dr. Barbara Erwin, superintendent. “Many of our parents are working parents,” she added.

“We recognize that some of our students may be scared and confused. Our principals, teachers, counselors—all of our staff—will be on alert today and will be extraordinarily sensitive to the needs of our students and of each other,” Dr. Erwin said.

To accomplish that goal, the following actions were taken:

• Psychologists, counselors, and nurses were mobilized.
• A request was made to the Scottsdale Prevention Institute for additional counselors, if needed.
• District administrators were dispatched to the campuses to assist in whatever way they are needed, and to work with campus administrators in talking with students and staff.
• Substitute teachers were on call in the event that additional adults or teachers were needed to meet the needs of the students.

A heightened security plan across the district’s 34 school facilities also was put in place this morning. Among actions taken:

• School Resource Officers (police from Scottsdale and Phoenix) were asked to be more visible on the campuses, and to increase perimeter checks.
• Construction crews were put on alert, and all heavy equipment and vehicles were to remain away from campus buildings.
• All unnecessary deliveries to campuses were not to be accepted.

For the moment, schools also are scheduled to remain open on Wednesday, which is an early release day. SUSD schools will continue on the regular schedule with a higher level of security for the rest of the week unless there are new developments. Senior administrators will meet after school today to make that determination.

The district also sent a letter home with elementary and middle school students to advise parents of actions taken.

Information will be posted on the district’s Web site at www.susd.org

Also, information will be posted on the Educational cable television station.

The Scottsdale Unified School District has 27,154 students and 3,037 employees.
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