Out of an abundance of caution and due to community safety concerns during the Israel-Hamas war, the Mercer Island Police Department will have extra officers patrolling the Island and conducting high visibility and proactive patrols, according to a social media post on Oct. 12.

No specific threat has been received on the Island, the post adds.

In a letter to the Mercer Island School District community posted on Oct. 12, Superintendent Fred Rundle wrote that today:

* Our School Resource Officer (SRO) will be stationed at MIHS to begin the day and will also go to IMS.

* MIPD will periodically patrol the parking lots of our schools and facilities and assist us with more support.

* During school arrival and pick-up, staff will maintain a visible presence around school premises.

* We plan to have extra support to ensure our MIHS Homecoming parade and football game (tonight) is without incident.

* Mental health is an excused absence in our school district. If your child is impacted by this threat such that they do not feel comfortable attending school (today), please notify the school just as you would typically do.