I'll be live-tweeting tonight's community meeting at #ecglass on safety concerns, after more than 800 kids stayed home because of #gunviolence concerns today. #lynchburgva #VAleg 
Opening the event is Dr. Crystal Edwards, superintendent of Lynchburg City Schools. Says she's "not afraid to do the hard work" to engage families on safety concerns. Also that it's tough to notify parents right away about concerns when ask the facts aren't in.
Edwards: "it's a 24/7 job" to coordinate with kids, parents, police and community on safety concerns. Wants parents who see "talk" about gun/gang violence on social media to report it immediately to the school (who can then report it to the police.)
Now a gentle scolding about the rush by parents to share and re-share on social media, fueling rumors. When that happens, "we are hindering" the ability of the school and the police to manage the situation. "We all own a piece of this."
Reminder to parents: make sure your contact info is up to date to ensure you get the school updates when an issue arises.
Now turning it over to Lynchburg Police Chief Ryan Zuidema, who will share info about the incident that started the whole thing last week.
"Our goal is to have a safe and secure school and a safe and secure community" and police are in regular communication with the school administration to ensure good coordination -- because things that happen in the community get dragged into school (and vice versa).
There was NOT a credible threat, despite the rumors on social media. Police spent hours last night investigating and didn't find anything to substantiate the threat.
And again, gentle scolding of all who amplified the rumors on social media. "It's important as community members that we talk, and if you see something, say something, but say it on the right way... Going on social media interferes with the police investigation."
Defends extra police presence at school today as necessary for making students and staff feel safe.
Now Dr. Garrett, principal at #ecglass. Says he was putting his daughter to bed last night when he heard about the threats being shared on social media about potential #GunViolence at school today.
Administration will meet with each grade level tomorrow to reiterate expectations for showing up. "We want 100% attendance."
Now opening the door to questions from the community. First question is about plans for metal detectors/wands. Dr. Edwards says that is a community decision and would need to be part of the budget process.
Next question from ECGlass question about why school doesn't release information faster: first reported threat was in the morning but no notification from school until 5pm. Lots of applause from audience.
Next comment from audience: "These kids were scared. They have experienced trauma. School attendance is NOT more important than our children's sense of security." LOTS OF APPLAUSE
Dr Edwards: Don't misunderstand me, I will never fault my babies for trying to keep each other safe."
Edwards: we HAVE to do better about getting more, better information out faster.
Larry Bassett: Upset that he had to talk with daughter at 11pm last night about whether she would go to school without enough information. "If we can shut down for the threat of snow, we can shut down for a threat of gun violence." Even more applause.
Edwards: if we close every time there is a threat, people will be upset and school could be closed frequently. Priority, instead, is focusing on investigating the threat before making a decision. <unhappy rumbling from audience>
Edwards: we need to be helping our kids find better ways to manage conflict. They are looking at us -- how do we act when we feel angry? "You are the first role model to show your kids how to act when things don't go your way."
Next audience member is the parent of a Heritage High School student. Concerned that notification calls about the threat didn't go out city-wide (instead of only to EC Glass) and that City operator today didn't know about the threat 24 hours after it started.
Next parent: who is going to tell us about what happened in the community and in the school on Friday? <resounding applause>
Parent calling out from audience: students are telling us that there were 8-10 "breaks-outs" with students with weapons. Edwards jumps in, disputes gun were involved, then lots of back and forth. <Note: no actual information on situation is provided.>
Carl Hutchrrson: this is the first time I've met the principal. We need to do a better job of reaching out. "All of these children are all of our children."
Student: On Friday, a lunch broke out on the lunchroom, cafeteria was locked down. Student with a disability was having a panic attack and asked to leave, was denied. Edwards: we need better communication with staff about how to help students w/disability in these situations."
Another parent: concerned the larger community issue was very reactionary. What community-based initiatives are in place in Lynchburg to help build community trust and lessen violence? Cites Norfolk as good example.
Police chief: lots of programs, including working with faith community, sending police into elementary classrooms to help build trust. Cites 40 ongoing programs. Challenge to the community: meet us halfway.
Principal Garrett: on Friday there were only verbal altercations--no physical fights. Staff acted quickly to break up incidents, no weapons were found.
Garrett: there WAS a physical fight in the cafeteria, but near the exit doors.
Gun violence survivor: it is better to spread information than not have information at all. Also concerned about increasing levels of gang activity in the schools that no one will talk about. "you ask us to meet you halfway, but that's hard when we don't know what's going on."
Parent: when things like this happen, how are teachers and counselors are notified? References "hit list" and how teachers didn't know what was happening hours after an email went out. Wants to know consequences for kids who were fighting.
Edwards: we take these matters seriously, handled on a case-by-case basis.
Edwards: don't want to be too public about sharing notification protocols, but it includes methods like email, texts and door to door notifications of teachers.
Parent: I came here for facts, but I don't feel like I've gotten many answers here tonight. There are a lot of kids who are traumatized and hurt and afraid to go to school and that's not okay.
Edwards: basically reiterates verbal altercations in hallway and physical altercation in cafeteria, but declines to elaborate on specifics for student privacy
Parent: threats at this school aren't taken seriously. Emails not returned for days, school board not notified about serious threats (ex: kid returning to school after several year absence for threatening to shoot up the school with hit list").
Now some heated back and forth from audience and Dr. Edwards, basically reiterating whether school takes seriously threats, procedure for notifications, use of social media
Cheryl Glass: why won't Principal Garrett give us a timeline of events? 2) how many gangs have been identified in LCS schools? 3) will counseling be provided to students? 4) can you imagine what students in those communities are going through?
Police chief: 30-35 identified gangs in our community, with 500 members. Can't speak to involvement of gangs in schools. Yes, there are gang members that come to school. Won't share more information publicly.
Early Friday morning around 9:30, SRO made a call for more help for "disorderly conduct." Lots of police came (more is better than not enough). Since left, but we're brought back to a second incident, then again for a third incident (in the cafeteria).
As of today, have arrested two 16 year old makes and one 17 year old male for disorderly conduct. "not an issue we take lightly."
Student: the definition of gangs is problematic. Her brother is part of a "brotherhood/club" that they call a gang, but they are not violent. How will school protect kids who were threatened after suspended kids return to school.
Edwards: when kids return, there is a re-entry meeting to make sure that expectations are set. Try to match kids up with a trusted adult (teacher/janitor, etc.) who can check in throughout the day.
Parent: my 2nd grader came home every day from LCS saying she didn't feel safe. No kid should be afraid to come to school.
Edwards: acknowledging that school should have notified parents about police presence at school.
Parent: students said that police disappearing so quickly after the first incident made them feel unsafe. Edwards: good to know!
Parent: police pinned her bystander daughter against the wall during the incident and she wasn't allowed to use her phone to call home. Mom found out after school.
Now back and forth from student who "wouldn't recognize you on the street" (speaking to Dr. Edwards). Someone, come get your kid.
My phone is down to 8%. There are still a bunch of people waiting to speak. 😬
ECGlass graduate: this is happening because we have taken prayer and God out of schools. Can we get a prayer chapel in the School?
<lots of commentary from audience> Edwards: please be respectful. This is an opportunity to model how we want our students to listen and respond to different opinions.
Next person: this is not a school problem, this is happening all over the world. We should stop pointing fingers and instead ask how can we work together and are we doing our part?
Parent: have kids in four LCS schools. How can I get involved, and what happened to the PTO? Principal Garrett pretty defensive, days people can email him.
Student: I was here today because I trusted the administration and the police. Being here today, people need to trust more.
Parent: cites NJ school that has successfully dealt with school violence. Appreciates how hard everyone involved had worked, but kids are worried about tomorrow. Will there be a police presence and counselors available?
Police chief: Police officers will be at high schools tomorrow, pending available resources.
5% phone battery: two public comments left. Will we make it?!
Audience: did the police figure out where this all started? Police chief: no, everyone heard something different and we probably will never know exactly what happened. If we give that someone intentionally put out a threat, we will file charges.
Freshman: were scared to come to school tomorrow. Edwards: we want you to be here. We are waiting for you. You make the school. You are the future. Your voice needs to be heard.
Closing remarks from Dr Edwards: this is not the end of the conversation. I have a lot to think about and we have a lot of work to do. We need to be a school of character. Learning how to disagree on a respectful way is just as important as calculus.
Parents are encouraged to stay in communication with administration too. Opportunity to consider a student advisory council too.
Final words from Dr Edwards: This is tough stuff. Hate has become a popular choice but it is not something I will accept in Lynchburg. Our kids are watching us. We have work to do. And I'm committed to doing it with you.
Audience generally seems satisfied as we leave. And that's all for tonight. I'm headed home!
