May 31, 2022
Dear Families,
I want to start by thanking our school community for their patience, understanding and support as we worked through today’s school safety incident. This afternoon before dismissal, the NY State Troopers with the K-9 Unit searched the Jr/Sr High School for any possible firearms on campus. No firearms were found in this search.
School safety is our number one priority in New Lebanon. As soon as this threat was brought to our attention, we contacted the authorities who then started their investigation. The school district, the Sheriff’s Department and the State Troopers take any threat to our schools or community very seriously. This investigation is still ongoing and in the hands of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Department.
I want to take this time to encourage families to monitor your child’s social media accounts and activity. Social media has many benefits, but can also be dangerous for children and teenagers. Please encourage your child to report any social media related threats, violent discussions, or anything else that makes them feel uncomfortable. If this activity is happening outside of the school day and on personal accounts we encourage you to contact the police and then notify the district so we can act accordingly. Any violent threat must be treated seriously and will be pursued by authorities.
Both WBH and the NL Jr/Sr. High Schools will be open for learning tomorrow, Wednesday, June 1st. The Troopers and Sheriff’s offices will have a larger presence in our community throughout the day. I know days like today are difficult for all of us, but I am very proud of our school community and we worked together to keep our kids safe and the community informed.
Thank you for your support. We will continue to keep you informed with any updates.
Fondly,
Andrew Kourt
NL Superintendent