The message below was emailed to Shawnee Middle School and Will Rogers families this afternoon.
April 25, 2024
Dear Shawnee Families,
At 3:25 p.m. today, Shawnee Middle School and Will Rogers Elementary administrators were advised of a potentially dangerous event in a nearby neighborhood. Out of an abundance of caution, school administrators acted quickly to delay the release of buses at SMS and place the Will Rogers Elementary after-school program on a soft lockdown. At no time was any student or staff member in any danger.
Once law enforcement officials investigated the neighborhood issue and determined that there was no threat of danger to our students or staff, administrators allowed the buses to resume their routes and soft lockdown procedures to end. As a precautionary measure, law enforcement officials will have an increased presence in the nearby neighborhood.
I appreciate the close working relationship we have with the Shawnee Police Department. Their quick response and communication with us allow us to keep student and staff safety as our top priority. I want to thank our school administrators and staff for acting quickly to follow all our safety protocols, including using our district messaging system to keep our families informed throughout the situation. Our communication platform enables us to send messages to families through text message, phone calls, app notifications, and website alerts. If you did not receive those immediate communications, I encourage you to contact your school office soon so we can ensure we have your most up-to-date contact information.
Our goal is to make Shawnee Public Schools the best and safest educational experience for your students and to have open and responsive communication with our families. If you ever have any questions about safety, please contact your school principal or me.
Sincerely,
Dr. Aaron Espolt
Superintendent