Administrators of Foundation Mixed School, located in close proximity to western Country Pond, are addressing what they describe as exaggerated reporting regarding a recent incident near their property, stressing that while concerning, the situation was promptly handled and did not represent the level of danger some reports have suggested.
In an interview yesterday, Acting Assistant Principal Kai Davis clarified the details of what occurred last Wednesday when a man attempted to interact with students through a window on the school’s southern perimeter.
“A man approached the southern window from the gallery on the South Street side and he attempted to talk to the children, saying hello and he had money that he wanted to give to them,” Davis explained. “But teachers were in the classroom with the children supervising the door and the gates have been consistently locked since the rise in crime and abduction.”
Davis, who was outside at the time, responded immediately along with a teacher who was in the classroom with the students.
“I happened to be outside at the time in a position that I could hear a voice on the back gallery and so I came around as well. And we were both successful in chasing him away,” she said. “He never came into the schoolyard or into the building. He merely tried to interact with them from the window.”
Davis acknowledged that the incident was alarming and worrisome, and expressed concern about misrepresentations that the man had entered school grounds or had successfully lured children.
“It paints a different picture when we say that he was on the premises trying to lure them. It really gives a different effect when you word it in that manner,” she noted.
In response to recent safety concerns, the school has implemented enhanced security measures, such as restricting access to a single monitored entrance.
“We started locking our main gate at the south side and allowing all parents and persons who drop off to come through the Tanner Street entrance, allowing those of us at the office to be more vigilant in seeing who is coming and who is going,” Davis said.
While the school has increased safety education efforts, Davis acknowledged the challenges in teaching young children to be cautious with adults.
“These are children – ages seven, eight – and they’re still very trained to respond respectfully to adults,” she stated. “We’re trying to teach them to be safe, but this is fairly new for them to say no and to not answer an adult when they reach out to them.”
Davis also addressed the reports of additional incidents at the school. “There was a report of another incident happening at the school today [Monday] and that’s actually inaccurate.”
She conceded that students had previously reported being approached by strangers offering items at the gate but clarified that these incidents were not witnessed by staff and are being treated as possible but unconfirmed occurrences.
The Acting Assistant Principal is appealing for accurate reporting during sensitive situations involving child safety.
“We just want to encourage the public to understand that everybody is nervous and scared. We are doing our part to keep the children safe,” she said. “We have to be responsible in what we say and what we do. If we start to say things that are not quite true, then we can throw persons off of the scent.”
The Foundation Mixed School administration continues to work closely with parents and the community to ensure student safety remains the top priority.
