05/15/2026
Our hearts are with the student, family, and the entire school community after the very scary incident at Central Elementary on Wednesday. An attempted child abduction is every parent and caregiver's worst nightmare, and we know a lot of families are feeling shaken and emotional right now.
Student safety has to be the number one priority. Children can’t properly learn or feel settled at school if families don’t feel confident they are safe. Incidents like this are a difficult reminder of how important supervision, safety procedures, communication, and community awareness really are.
We are thankful for the quick actions taken by school staff, alert community members, and local authorities to help keep students safe. We also recognize that situations like this can leave kids, parents, and staff feeling anxious for some time afterward. We encourage families to check in with their children, have calm and age-appropriate conversations about personal safety, trusted adults, and what to do if something doesn’t feel right. If families are experiencing heightened anxiety as a result of this incident, we also encourage them to reach out to their school admin to access mental health supports that are available in the community.
DPAC will continue advocating for safe schools, clear communication with families, and ensuring student safety always comes first.
