Danelo Cavalcante prison escape: Some Unionville-Chadds Ford, Kennett Consolidated schools reopen
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. (CBS) -- Several schools in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District and the Kennett Consolidated School District are expected to reopen as Pennsylvania State Police shift their search perimeter for escaped prisoner Danelo Cavalcante.
Five schools from the Kennett Consolidated School District -- New Garden, Bancroft, Mary D. Lang, Kennett Middle and Kennett High School -- will open and operate on a normal schedule but with an increased police presence on all campuses beginning Thursday.
The five schools are located outside of state police's search perimeter. The only school that remains closed still is Greenwood Elementary School, which lies within the search zone.
READ MORE: Danelo Cavalcante search closes Unionville-Chadds Ford, Kennett Consolidated school districts again
The Kennett Consolidated School District's release stated in part:
We have received information regarding the updated search perimeter that is still within our district borders. Currently, Greenwood Elementary School remains within the search area. Additionally, we are still identifying the various road closures impacting a number of our families. Therefore, tomorrow, September 7 we will be reopening five of our six schools located outside the search perimeter. New Garden, Bancroft, Mary D. Lang, Kennett Middle and Kennett High School will open and operate on a regular schedule with an increased police presence on all campuses.
A separate message will be communicated to all Greenwood families with a detailed plan for Greenwood students. For those families electing to keep your children home, the absences will be excused.
Throughout the evening, we will continue to be in communication with the District Attorney's Office, Pennsylvania State Police, and local law enforcement to monitor the situation and adjust accordingly based on any new information.
The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District also shared in a release they were expecting to reopen three campuses Wednesday afternoon following the press conference, where authorities provided the latest update on the Cavalcante search.
Unionville Elementary, Unionville High School and Patton Middle School were expected to open Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. as authorities announced the perimeter shift.
The Unionville-Chadds Ford's release stated in part:
Pending information received during the press conference held by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), we will be opening Unionville Elementary, Unionville High School and Patton Middle School campuses beginning today at 4:00 p.m.
Our intention is to get back to normal as soon as possible and as long as we feel it is safe to do so. Opening the campuses outside of the search zone this afternoon will prepare us to open those schools for students tomorrow. PSP advises that we all be mindful of the numerous road closures that may affect travel. Rapid changes may occur to secure an area so please pay attention and be vigilant.
As of this letter, Unionville Elementary, Unionville High School and Patton Middle School will be open tomorrow. If we receive any information that changes this, we will let you know.
We plan to review the search zone again tomorrow morning to determine which buildings we can safely open.
Three of their other schools in the district -- Pocopson Elementary, Chadds Ford Elementary and Hillendale Elementary -- were expected to remain closed as they are still included in the search zone.
Spicebush Montessori School in Glen Mills said its preschool is expected to be open on Thursday. But there's a chance the school might not open if the circumstances change.
The school said an email would be sent out by 6 a.m. on Thursday if the preschool decides to not open.
Below is a statement via email:
"After thoughtful consideration and continued research we have decided to open our doors tomorrow with our anticipated schedule: 3 and 5 day students are welcome to attend and before/aftercare will be available for those previously signed up.
Tomorrow we will have all three teachers on site for the full day. Given the rising heat index (said to be 105• by the afternoon but manageable in the morning) we will be inside our locked facility for most of the day, with an exception to a small morning recess before work time, of which a parent volunteer will be joining us for added ratio.
While we reserve the right to change this arrangement if circumstances change, we will do our best to be respectful of everyone's scheduling needs and try to communicate said change as early as we can via email by 6 am., tomorrow."
This year we're grateful to have the addition measure of a Ring Doorbell, which allows us to see who approaches our school and records it in real-time. When picking up your child or children please utilize this feature as for many parts of the day the shades may be down and/or teachers will be working with children.
We look forward to seeing you all tomorrow, and hope you are well and peaceful."
