(UPDATED 4:36 PM with new version of letter, via Denny’s principal)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 2:23 PM: Thanks to the Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School parents who shared a note that has been e-mailed to families about an incident that brought police to Denny this morning – hours before tonight’s student-safety meeting at Sealth:
Today, it was reported to administration that a Denny parent had made concerning comments to a scholar who was not his own child at school.
As a precaution, the Seattle Police Department was contacted. The Police came to school, interviewed those involved and documented the incident. The Seattle Police Department released the parent and we have had a normal school day.
As always, safety is our top priority. We will continue to communicate with you on a regular basis. Thank you for all of your ongoing support.
The letter is signed by Denny principal Jeff Clark and Sealth principal Aida Fraser-Hammer. We checked with the district to find out more; spokesperson Stacy Howard explains that the reported comments were construed as potentially hostile, and came at morning dropoff time, after the parent’s child apparently pointed out and said something about a previous interaction with the other child.
P.S. Tonight’s 7 pm meeting in the school library, as mentioned again here last night, is meant to address issues of student safety off-campus as well as at school, and members of the community are welcome as well as students and families from Sealth and Denny.
ADDED 4:36 PM: Denny principal Clark says this letter is now being sent – it includes additional details:
Today at school we have had some conflict between two 7th grade scholars. As a part of this it was reported to administration that a Denny parent had made concerning comments to a scholar who was not his own child at school. As a pre-caution, the Seattle Police Department was contacted. The Police came to school, interviewed those involved and documented the incident. The Seattle Police Department released the parent. Despite a pro-active intervention to help solve the conflict, the two scholars got into a physical altercation. One of them received medical attention. Multiple steps will be in place to help these two scholars to resolve this conflict and develop the skills to solve problems peacefully.
As always, safety is our top priority. We will continue to communicate with you on a regular basis. Thank you for all of your ongoing support.
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