Portola schools to be in session May 18; community meeting tomorrow
Following this morning’s threat to C. Roy Carmichael Elementary School in Portola, both CRC and Portola High School went into lockdown protocol. Law enforcement from throughout Plumas County, as well as neighboring Sierra County, arrived at the scene. Once it was determined that the school sites were secure, the students were dismissed this morning. Plumas Unified School District Superintendent Bill Roderick worked with the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office to determine whether school should be held tomorrow. That determination was made and school will be held. Earlier this afternoon it was announced that the threat came through a notice from the Veterans Crisis Center. The text sent by “Paul” said he was homicidal and planned to kill several people at C. Roy Carmichael. However, it was determined that the threat was actually made by a juvenile how has been identified.
This is the letter sent out to students, staff, families and the community this afternoon:
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Community Members,
We would like to provide you with an important update regarding the recent threat against C. Roy Carmichael Elementary School (CRC). We are able to inform you that the threat has been identified and it has been determined that there is no imminent danger or threat to PUSD schools. Law enforcement has deemed it safe for school operations to resume on Thursday, May 18th. All students are able to attend classes at their regular times, and we are looking forward to providing a safe and conducive learning environment for everyone. We understand that students may need assistance in processing feelings and emotions and our support providers will be ready and available.
Additionally, we understand the significance of open communication and community involvement during such incidents. In order to address any concerns and provide further information, we will be hosting a community meeting on Thursday, May 18th, at 6:00 PM. The meeting will take place in the CRC cafeteria with Superintendent Roderick, District Attorney Hollister and Sheriff Johns, and we strongly encourage all parents, guardians, and interested community members to attend.
During this meeting, we will discuss communication and emergency response to this incident. It is crucial that we come together as a community to support one another and ensure that our schools remain safe environments for our children.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the Plumas County law enforcement agencies, including the Sheriff’s Office, Sierra County Sheriff’s Department, CHP, and Fish and Game, for their unwavering commitment to protecting our community. We would also like to express our appreciation to our staff, students, and parents for their patience, cooperation, and understanding throughout this challenging time.
We will continue to provide updates as necessary, and we hope to see you at the community meeting.
Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Superintendent Roderick
Strong work — all who protected our students and schools!
Sigh. Nobody does drama better than Plumas County.