Local parents' concern over the recent sniper shootings in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia led Albemarle County and Charlottesville school officials to eliminate all outdoor activities yesterday.
The restrictions will last through tomorrow, when school officials will re-evaluate the situation.
Field trips and athletic events will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, according to Charlottesville spokesman Maurice Jones.
Albemarle County spokeswoman Lee Catlin attributed the restrictions to specific worries that parents have voiced.
"Parental concerns have been heightened in response to the [sniper's] specific threat to children," she said.
Over the weekend, police found a letter they believe was written by the person responsible for the shootings.
The letter was discovered in the woods behind a Ponderosa Steakhouse in Ashland, Va., where a 37-year-old man was shot Saturday night.
The handwritten letter warned in its final sentences that children "are not safe anywhere, at any time."
County and city school officials stress that the policy is a precautionary measure, and not in response to any direct threat to the community.
"We feel that it is important not to overreact since we are not impacted directly," Catlin said. "We don't want to create a sense of fear -- we are just responding to some anxiety out there."
Jones reiterated that the steps are purely cautionary.
"We have the responsibility to do what we can to protect our students," Jones said. "We believe this is an appropriate step to take at this moment."
Aside from limiting outdoor activity, the policy will not affect other aspects of the school day, though the schools will continue to increase safety measures, Catlin said.
"For the past several weeks we have had increased police visibility, and that has not changed," she added.
Although parents have had mixed reactions to the policy, most support area schools' precautionary efforts.
"Some parents believe it is the right step to take at this moment," Jones said. "Others have expressed support for the move, but also sadness that something like this has to be done."
Charlottesville resident Kathy Zentgraf, who teaches at Charlottesville High School where her daughter attends, expressed concern.
"I'm worried about all of us," she said. "I'm worried for everyone -- for adults and kids alike."
While surrounding public high schools have implemented precautions, officials at St. Anne's Belfield School on Ivy Road say they are not undertaking any restrictive policies.
"We have increased security on campus, but we haven't curtailed any activities or made any moves toward changing school schedules," Headmaster George Conway said. "Although the community has not been directly affected, we have to stay tuned and rely on our local authorities to let us know if there's something we should do."
Several public school activities have been canceled in wake of the sniper shootings, but cancellations depend on the specific circumstances of each case, Catlin said.
"The school administration officially decides whether to cancel an activity, but it is ultimately up to parents to determine whether individual children should participate," she said.
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