Sandy Hook Parent To Speak At Middle School In West Nyack

WEST NYACK, NY — In the wake of the recent phone threats, Clarkstown school officials have scheduled a special event Dec. 3 at Felix Festa Middle School. The district's Safety Team has invited school safety expert and inspirational speaker Michele Gay to give a presentation to the whole community.

Anonymous calls were made Wednesday, Thursday, and Tuesday about the middle school. The first two alleged that there was a gunman in the school. The last one was allegedly to apologize for the first two. The school was locked down Thursday while police searched the building; yesterday the so-called apology also drew a police presence at the campus.

District officials have invited Gay, herself a parent who was profoundly affected by the events at Sandy Hook Elementary School on that December day in 2014.

"Her experience as a parent, teacher, involved community member and now leader of an organization dedicated to ensuring the safety of all schools, could not be more timely, given the experience our district has endured this past week," said Martin D. Cox, Superintendent of Schools. "The hope of this presentation is that it will increase our awareness of the role each of us can play in supporting a safe and healthy school environment. Ms. Gay will also share what she experienced as a parent during a school emergency and lessons learned.

"I hope you will join us and our school PTAs for what I anticipate to be an insightful and informative session."

SEE:

• Update: Middle School Gunman Calls Were Hoax
• Hoax Caller Calls School To Apologize, Spurring Police Presence
• Remembering Sandy Hook Victims 6 Years Later