Richards Schedules Community Meeting In Wake Of Threats

Oak Lawn IL

18 November, 2021

12:32 AM

Description

OAK LAWN, IL — H.L. Richards High School is hosting a community meeting Nov. 23, in the wake of recent threats made against the high school. The meeting will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Richards Performing Arts Center, Entrance S-15, 10601 S. Central Avenue. Community members are welcome to attend the open meeting, however, it will focus on Richards High School. An Oak Lawn Community High School student and two students from Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School are accused of texting bomb and shooting threats to Oak Lawn schools. Police said the students sent the threats as a "prank," who are now facing juvenile charges. The alleged threats forced schools to operate on soft lockdown and disrupted classes for more than a week. Oak Lawn police and Richards administrators will provide parents with a timeline of the disruptive events and measures to ensure the safety of the building, students and staff. The meeting also includes a question-and-answer session, where parents can share concerns and questions with officials. "In time when the community feels nervous, frustrated and scared," Richards Principal Mike Jacobsen told parents in an email, "the best thing we can do is come together, inform each other of our concerns and responses, look for ways to improve, and then go back to making Richards High School the great school it is."