How Monday's School 'Lockout' Unfolded; Did Parkway's Procedures Work?

As a swat team searched the nearby area, four Parkway schools went into "lockout" mode. Here's how it unfolded as nearly 100 students and staff were locked inside Parkway South High School.

Parkway School District officials say the system worked as it was supposed to on Monday evening when a gun scare in the vicinity of Parkway South High left 100 students and staff locked inside until the situation was resolved. (For instant updates follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter.) Parkway district spokeswoman Cathy Kelly said parents were not notified during the two-hour period that events were unfolding because the situation was changing so quickly, officials didn't want to send misinformation. The lockout at four Parkway schools began on Monday afternoon after a Webster Groves 19-year-old bought a shotgun, texted his girlfriend that he was going to kill himself, then proceeded to the area near Parkway South High School. No one was …

• Photos (5)

St. Louis County Police Meeting With School Officials About Security

Police and school officials will discuss changes in security after Friday's tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Due to the recent event in Connecticut, St. Louis County Police Department officers and members of the Safe Schools Partnership just announced Tuesday morning they will be meeting this Thursday at 9 a.m.  (For instant updates follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter.) Safe Schools Partnership of St. Louis County was launched during the 1998-1999 school year. It is a collaborative agreement between the county police department, area police departments, school districts, and other concerned agencies, with the sole goal of assuring safety for children. The meeting, which is not open to the public, will be held at the Parkway School District Instructional Services Center. Editor's Note:  Leave your own recommendations right here in the comments' …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (1)

St. Louis County Police Chief Wants to Arm School Officials With Guns

In the wake of the Newtown, CT school massacre, St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch will visit schools this week to discuss increasing security, including putting guns in elementary schools.

St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch and police officers will begin visiting St. Louis County schools Monday morning, according to KMOV. (For instant updates follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter.) Fitch said he's received numerous calls from area schools concerned about security since Friday's mass shooting in a Newtown, CT elementary school.  Fitch acknowledges that most high schools and some middle schools, including those in West County, have armed school resource officers.  However, elementary schools are not normally protected by officers. Fitch wants to see armed resource officers or armed school officials in those schools, according to KSDK. He points out that Sandy Hook Elementary School conducted threat drills and locked its …

•  32 Comments
• Photos (1)

Karl Frank Jr.

11:33 am on Friday, March 8, 2013

LOL. I don't know who you think you saw...but it wasn't me.   more ›

Fire House Renovation Cost, New School Before Town and Country Aldermen Monday

Town and Country aldermen will discuss increasing funding by $53K for the city's fire station renovations, plus take a closer look at plans for Raintree Learning Community moving in off Mason Road. View full agenda here.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been updated to reflect the correct cost of the fire house renovation project and the correct use of the capital improvement funds that are being discussed Monday night. Town and Country aldermen are set to discuss a number of issues Monday night, including adjusting the 2012 budget to increase expenditures by $53K for the fire station renovations. They could also vote on employee benefits and police department employee compensation. (Sign up here for the FREE Patch Newsletter, including Breaking News Alerts.) Aldermen could also vote on increasing a 2012 parks and stormwater fund expenditure. Fire Station Renovation Cost Aldermen are set to discuss a proposed increase of $50,000 in 2012 capital improvement …

• Documents (1)

Grant May Pay For Crosswalk at Hanna Woods Elementary School

The City of Manchester is working to receive grant funds for a proposed signalized crosswalk for Parkway's Hanna Woods Elementary School on Hanna Road.

The City of Manchester is hoping a grant will pay for a new signalized crosswalk at Parkway's Hanna Woods Elementary School.     It's part of the Hanna Road Improvement Project taking place along a 1.8 mile stretch of Hanna Road. (For instant news updates follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter.) Last Monday, Manchester aldermen voted to authorize Juneau Engineers to apply to the Missouri Department of Transportation for a Safe Routes to School (SRT) funding grant for the crosswalk.  As previously reported by Patch, Juneau Engineers is the company hired by the City of Manchester to prepare paperwork to acquire funding for the Hanna Road Project. The project includes improvement work on 1.8 miles of Hanna Road from Manchester Road to Big Bend …

• Photos (1)

New School Gets OK to Build in Town and Country

After much discussion and concerns voiced by residents, aldermen voted Monday night to approve the preliminary site plan for Raintree Learning Community so it can move into the city.

As previously reported by Town and Country - Manchester Patch, Raintree Learning Community wants to move from its Ballwin location and build a new school at 2000 to 2016 Amonte Drive in Town and Country. (Sign up here for the FREE Patch Newsletter, including Breaking News Alerts.) Despite a handful of residents speaking out against the project, the Town and Country Planning and Zoning Commission approved the preliminary site development plan for the new school on Mason Road near Manchester Road in August. Monday night, the Town and Country Board of Aldermen also unanimously approved the site plan.  The school's owner, Ilya Eydelman, wants to build a new 7,310-square-foot school for 70 preschool and kindergarten students Town and Country.  …

• Photos (14)
• Documents (1)

Parkway Solar Panels Being Installed This Week

According to the Parkway School District, this is the first and largest school solar project in the state of Missouri.