Los Angeles schools set to reopen after threat

New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, a former Los Angeles police chief, derided the L.A. closures as a “significant overreaction”.

At news conference covered by local stations and cable news nets, Cortines described it as a “rare threat” and that he ordered all campuses searched before the end of the day today.

School Board President Steve Zimmer appealed to the entire city for cooperation, asking employers to show “maximum flexibility with your employees, who are mothers and fathers and guardians today”. During the 2011-2012 school year, it had more than 660,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade, plus more than 250,000 in adult education programs.

More than 900 public schools, 187 charter schools were closed in the greater Los Angeles area, affecting some 640-thousand students. This, even though children might be safer in school than if they are sent home where they could be left unsupervised.

Adding that the writer seemed to have “at least a passing knowledge of Southern California”, Sherman said, “I don’t know whether this was sent by a radical Islamic jihadist or somebody who had an anti-Islamic agenda or just a prankster”. He says, “It’s often better to keep them in school”. And New York, you know, made that decision after they learned there was multiple threats when we shared with them what had happened here and learned about theirs.

The threat was linked to an Internet address in Frankfurt, Germany, a spokeswoman for the school district said.

“Our son, who is a first-grader at an LAUSD elementary school, was so excited by the prospect of staying home for the day that he didn’t ask any questions”, wrote Los Angeles Times reporter Kerry Cavanaugh Tuesday.

“I think what [Los Angeles officials] were doing was being cautious, going through the protocols”, says Tod Burke, a criminal justice at Radford University in Virginia.

Los Angeles police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were notified of the threat and were investigating, officials said.

A similar threat was also made against New York City schools, but officials there said they deemed it not credible from the onset and accused Los Angeles school officials of badly overreacting.

Still, in closing down the LA schools officials there handed whoever made the threat a victory.

Most high school students are taking semester final exams.

“The decision was not mine to make, but it is mine to support as mayor of Los Angeles”, said Mayor Eric Garcetti.

“I would say this to people that are critical …”

“Creating and maintaining a safe environment for students, teachers, parents, administrators and classified employees is our top priority”, Torlakson said.

An hour later, NY students began arriving at school with no knowledge of the threat. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti had released a statement regarding the LAUSD closures, urging families to remain calm.

But in biting criticism, New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said Los Angeles school officials’ action was “totally, totally uncalled for”.

LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines said Tuesday the threat mentioned backpacks and “other packages”. The Los Angeles Police Department and our sheriff’s department out here can supplement what they have.

Los Angeles law enforcement and city leaders are defending the decision to shut down the city’s school system due to an emailed threat.