October 1, 2026   

Dear RSU 13 Parents and Guardians,

We made the decision today to put South School in Rockland into a “Secure” based on concerning information that we received and felt warranted further investigation.  A “Secure” means holding all students inside of the building, ensuring all exterior doors are locked by checking the perimeter, and heavily monitoring any entrance or exit in the building (which we did with the help of our School Resource Officer).  When a “Secure” call is made, it is business as usual inside of the building for students.  The “Secure” began at 1:32pm and lasted 59 minutes. We greatly appreciate the quick efforts of our staff, our SRO John Bagley, Rockland PD, and the Knox Sheriff’s Office for their support.   We’re using today’s response communication with families as another opportunity to remind you that RSU 13 uses the attached “I Love U Guys” Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol (SRP) to provide students, staff, families, and first responders with clear, consistent language and actions during a school safety situation. 

               Sincerely,                       

John C. McDonald       
Superintendent of Schools 

Click here to view the "I Love U Guys" Foundation's Standard Response Protocol (SRP)

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