The same school in Rockland County where Peter Cocker of Tappan, described as an “irate parent”, barged into the South Orangetown Middle School in Blauvelt and held the district superintendent at gunpoint went into lockdown again the other day after a student brought a pellet gun to school.
Under New York State law, schools are required to develop “lock down” and “lock out” plans. The law was inspired by the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado. Immediately upon learning that a student was found to be carrying a weapon, the South Orangetown Middle School implemented their “lock down” (classrooms locked, lights off, kids hiding) and “lock out” (no one enters or leaves the building) plans.
Over that same span as the two Rockland County incidents, New Rochelle High School Principal Don Conetta has still refused to explain why he failed to put his school on “lock down” and “lock out” after a Stabbing Incident at New Rochelle High School in which a student ran free through the school with an edged-weapon after having already stabbed one student in the neck and side. The student was hospitalized and the attacked arrested by New Rochelle Police.
Even after sending out thousands of robocalls yesterday inviting parents to contact him today with questions, Don Conetta has refused to answer ANY of the questions put to him via email. Big surprise! In typical “kick the can down the road” fashion, Conetta emails in response to my request for answers that he will answer questions next week, after the schools investigation is complete. Considering that he failed to mention this caveat in his robocalls, most if not all of my questions do not depend at all in completing an investigation.
