10-26-23 RSU 23 Community Evening Update
Posted on
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October 26, 2023
4:30 PM Update
Dear RSU 23 Community,
I am reaching out to all of you this evening with a brief update. We continue to monitor the current search that is underway for the suspect in the Lewiston shootings. I have been in frequent contact with area law enforcement, area superintendents and our RSU 23 leadership team as we prepare for the upcoming days.
At the moment, it is too early to definitively say whether or not we will be able to safely return to school tomorrow morning. Law enforcement efforts continue to be underway to apprehend the individual responsible for the shootings and we continue to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of our school community. While we all hope for a return to normalcy, we intend to make a decision that is best for the safety of our students, staff, and families within our district.
I will communicate via phone and email to all families no later than 5:30 AM with the plan for tomorrow. Building administrators, school leadership teams, and our district crisis teams have met throughout the day to develop communication and support plans for students. In addition, members of our law enforcement have committed to providing additional resources to support our returning students and staff.
As stated earlier today, we know many of you will be discussing this with your children and coming to terms with it yourselves. Violence of this nature is difficult to understand. As partners in your child’s well-being, we want you to know the district has support in place to help students process their feelings at school. HERE is a resource for parents and educators as you prepare to talk with children about this tragedy. We also ask that you share any concerns or information related to the incident with our school administration or law enforcement as appropriate.
Sincerely,
John Suttie
RSU 23 Superintendent of Schools