Letters

As many in the community are aware, on Friday, March 7, Westhampton Beach Middle School and High School were evacuated following bomb threat phone calls to each school [“Westhampton Schools Bomb Threats Came From Germany, at Behest of Local Student,” 27east.com, March 7].

Moving 1,400 students off campus without warning is challenging, but we were able to do so quickly and safely because we had tremendous cooperation and support.

Thank you to the Westhampton Beach Village Police Department, the Town of Southampton Police Department and the New York State Police, who not only supported the evacuation but were integral to assessing the safety of our school buildings.

Thank you to our evacuation locations, the Westhampton Beach Fire Department and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, for accepting our students at a moment’s notice. Thank you, also, to the Village of Westhampton Beach Department of Public Works, Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance, and Montauk Bus for assisting with the evacuation and safe transport of students.

Within our school community, thank you to our faculty, staff and administrators, who acted with compassion and prioritized safety during this unexpected event. Thank you to our middle school and high school students, who were beyond cooperative.

And, lastly, thank you to parents and caregivers for the patience, support and the trust you place in us each day. It will never be taken lightly.

There are, no doubt, countless others who stepped up and assisted along the way. May all know just how deeply the support from within, and beyond, the Westhampton Beach community is appreciated.

Carolyn J. Probst, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Westhampton Beach School District