School of the Nations reopens

A security check-in area under construction at the School of the Nations.
A security check-in area under construction at the School of the Nations.

Classes at the privately-run School of the Nations in Georgetown resumed yesterday, a week after security measures were put in place to address the recent threats to students that were made on Facebook. 

The return of students to classes has been staggered with those preparing for examinations from grades 2,4,6,9 and 11 along with form 6 returning yesterday. The remainder of the school population will return to classes tomorrow, Co-founder and Director, Pamela O’Toole told Stabroek News yesterday.

O’Toole said with the recommencement of classes they were given the opportunity to speak with students and listen to their concerns. She noted that while the turnout was favourable, some students were nervous on their return. However, they were able to speak with the students and assure them that security measures were in place.

Students were subjected to security scans at check points upon entry. Stabroek News yesterday observed the contracted security firm, Professional Guard Service carrying out a patrol just after school had been dismissed.

Concerns intensified after the school’s Principal, Dr Brian O’Toole, was shot in an attack at his home two Sundays ago. The shooting occurred hours after he had called a meeting to address the threat that had surfaced the day before. The threat to students was made via Facebook and police and cybersecurity experts have been trying to locate the individual responsible. Subsequent to the shooting of Brian O’Toole, school was closed and after a second meeting where parents expressed their fears over security, classes were cancelled for the week.

Meanwhile, Pamela O’Toole said the investigation in relation  to who made the threat remains in the hands of the police and the school administration was not updated on the progress of it.

Crime Chief Lyndon Alves in an invited comment yesterday told Stabroek News that the investigation remains active and diligent efforts are being made to track the IP address of the post containing the threat.

Several persons were last week questioned but it remains unclear if any useful information was gathered.

At a meeting on Friday, parents were brought up to date with the developments and changes that they will see at the school in the coming weeks to address their security concerns. They were told that the school will be carrying out bag checks on senior students and  two different entrances will be utilized during peak hours among other measures.

In addition, parents were informed that the school had adopted ‘ALICE,’ an active shooter response plan.

Pamela O’Toole also related to this newspaper that her husband had been discharged from the medical facility where he had been for several days over the weekend. She said that they are looking at the possibility of flying him overseas for further medical attention to his right hand.

In a Facebook post, a day after being shot, the principal wrote, “I wanted to share this update as inevitably a lot of things are being said. I am in the hospital, very well treated by the staff and getting the best possible treatment.”

He added, “There were three bullets fired at me. I was struck by two of them. One did minor damage on the right arm and the other was more serious on the left where the bone was badly damaged. I am getting better and will likely be in the hospital for a few days.”