A Whole Other Level

For the most part, today was just a regular day. Nothing really excitng, my kids were good, my lessons went fine. Except...
At 11:30a.m.(I was at lunch), the school secretary came over the intercom and said, "Staff Evacuate. Staff Evacuate. Do Not Use The Front Exit. Evacuate." So, we (me and the other teachers I was eating with) walked out of the back door. We saw all the students coming out. I walked over to another teacher that had been in the office and asked her what was happening. Apparently, someone had thrown a molotov cocktail in the stairwell at the front of the building.
We stood outside (while principal screamed, "In a line! No talking! Stay in line! Stop Talking!") for 30 minutes. While we were out in the parking lot, two police cars were already there, three more showed up, as well as two firetrucks.
Then we were told to go back in the building (NO TALKING!!) and resume class. After everyone was back in the room, she came over the intercom, berated teachers for "not watching students at all times," and told us not to use the front exit. The End.
I have never been afraid to go to my school. I know it's crazy and out of control, but I have never feared for my own safety. Now there's bombs. I'm really not okay with that at all. I'm really not okay with the principal thinking this is something she "deals" with. This is not a suspension moment. This is not a principal's situation. This is something that every adult and every parent of a child in that building has the right to know about. She never told anyone what was happening. Most people didn't know. I understand not wanting to cause chaos. That is totally understandable. But the issue needs to be addressed.
We also got cited because they didn't evacuate the building soon enough.