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The NYPD says there were 23 bomb threats citywide last school year. This year, there’s already been seven.
As News 12 previously reported, one of those threats happened at I.S. 49 in Williamsburg.
Bernardo Sanchez’s child attends the school and says he thinks the school handled it well, and overall he doesn’t worry. “They handled it well. I feel safe, my kids feel safe too,” said Sanchez. Other parents like Saba Bhamidipati say the thought of school threats is very worrisome. “When you’re raising a kid, all the literature says fear is not something you want to instill or guide them towards so their hardened. You try to create a home environment where they feel safe and protected. Why would you want any less when you send them to school,” said Bhamidipati. Hena Ali-Bernard is the supervisor of Social Work for Brooklyn schools. Her team sends support after incidents happen, to bring school communities back to a baseline and make them feel comfortable. Ali-Bernard encourages parents to have conversations with their kids. “Open dialogue, ‘How was school for you today? Any experiences you want to share?’ Simple questions like ‘What was your peak and pit for the day?’ It can offer insight into anything going on. And I encourage parents to communicate with their schools,” said Ali-Bernard News 12 reached out to the Department of Education for comment on the threats that have happened so far this year. It sent News 12 a prepared statement that said ” We take every threat extremely seriously, and work in close partnership with the NYPD to ensure that our schools are safe. We are also continuing to call on our communities to check in on the young people in their lives, and when you see or hear something, say something.”