(UPDATE 4/11/19 at 2:00 p.m.)

As the School District continues to work through the aftermath of Monday afternoon’s tragic incident in Lions Park resulting in the death of a Wapato Middle School, the District wants to reassure families, students, staff and the greater community of its ongoing efforts to provide a safe and secure learning environment.  After learning that the victim of Monday’s incident was a student the District arranged for counseling services to be available first thing Tuesday morning for students and staff who felt the need for assistance in dealing with this tragedy.  Those counseling services have consisted of the District’s own counseling staff and a counselor from Virginia-Mason Memorial Hospital’s Grief Counseling Services.  The District also contacted ESD 105 and arranged for additional outside counseling services if needed.  So far there has not been a need for those additional services.  With help from the Yakima County Sheriff’s Department and Phoenix Security, the District also added extra security first thing Tuesday morning and, at the very least, will keep that extra security in place throughout the rest of this week.  The District takes the physical and emotional well-being of its students and staff very seriously, even more so during events like the community has experienced this week.

 

(UPDATE 4/9/19 at 6:50 a.m.)  

The District has been informed the victim of yesterday afternoon's shooting in the Wapato city park was a Wapato Middle School student.  The District will have counseling services and support available for students and staff in need. 

(Posted 4/8/19 at 9:30 p.m.)

The Yakima County Sheriff’s Department notified Wapato Public Schools shortly after 4:30 p.m. this afternoon (4/8/19) of a reported shooting that took place in the Wapato city park across the street from Camas and Satus Elementary Schools.  Although the reported incident took place well after school had released for the day the District immediately placed all its buildings in lockdown as a measure of protection for students and staff involved in after school activities including sports and the after school reading program. When the District lifted the lockdown and began releasing students around 5:30 p.m., building administrators made sure students either boarded a bus or were picked up by an adult for transportation home.  As a precaution students who normally walk home were not allowed to do so this afternoon.  Also, we want to make sure our families know that out of an abundance of caution, the District has arranged for extra security from the Yakima County Sheriff’s Department and Phoenix Security to be on patrol during the school day tomorrow (4/9/19). 

The District also wants to thank the families of those students impacted by the lockdown this afternoon for their patience and understanding.