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AUSD Schools Shelter-in-Place Due to Nearby Possible Incident Involving a Firearm

On Thursday, January 16, at approximately 1:20 p.m., Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) ordered six district schools to shelter in place in response to reports of a possible weapon in the area, according to Superintendent Pasquale Scuderi. Three charter schools also sheltered in place.

Alameda Post - AUSD Offices.
Alameda Unified School District Offices on Challenger Drive. File photo.

Impacted schools included Encinal, Paden, Ruby Bridges, ASTI, the child development center, and Island High, Scuderi said. Charter school partners included Academy of Alameda (AOA), ACLC, and Nea. (Editor’s note: updated Jan. 22, 10:20 a.m. to correct spelling of Nea.)

The shelter-in-place order was lifted at approximately 1:39 p.m. At about 1:45 p.m., AUSD Senior Manager of Community Affairs Susan Davis posted an update on Facebook, stating that the shelter-in-place order “was in response to a report of an off-campus incident that may have involved a weapon.” Davis reiterated that all students and staff were safe.



Scuderi sent the following statement to all families and staff after the shelter-in-place had been lifted, according to an AUSD report:

“This afternoon at approximately 1:20 p.m. our team briefly put six AUSD schools and three local charter schools into a ‘shelter in place’ protocol. The protocol was initiated in response to reports from the Alameda Police Department about a possible incident involving a firearm in the area of Fifth Street and [Ralph Appezzato Memorial Parkway]. The exact nature of that incident or concern is still being determined.”

Scuderi’s announcement, which listed the schools involved (see above) continued, “We are pleased that all students and staff were safe throughout the incidents. We appreciate our ongoing partnership with Alameda PD and the always diligent work of our administrators and teachers who take care of kids every day, and especially during events like this.”

Noting that the district would share “additional relevant information” if it were received, Scuderi stated, “We will always act in an abundance of caution when the safety of our students and staff are in any way compromised.”

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