The violent attack on a teacher at Wahiawa Elementary School by two men who remained at large last night had parents on edge and officials trying to figure out whether there are ways to better secure the open campus.

Police said the teacher, 59, was beaten and sexually assaulted at about 6:30 a.m. yesterday as she prepared for the start of the school day.

The men also reportedly stole a laptop from the victim, who was taken to Wahiawa General Hospital in stable condition following the attack.

Police canvassed the area by air and on the ground throughout the day but had not made any arrests as of last night.

Classes were held as usual yesterday at Wahiawa Elementary, and some parents found out about the attack only when they picked up their children after school.

Angie St. Germain, 25, whose daughter attends kindergarten, expressed shock after hearing about what happened.

"I just found out," she said as she hugged her daughter. "It makes me a little more cautious."

Sana Lauti, 34, has two children and four nieces and nephews who attend the school.

"I hope they find the guys," he said, shuffling his kids, nieces and nephews into his minivan.

Kaipo Cruz, the parent of a kindergartner at the school, called a friend who works on campus after hearing about the attack to make sure his child was OK.

"I was worried," Cruz said.

Principal Troy Tamura sought to reassure parents in a letter sent home yesterday with the school’s 570 students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

"No students were involved in this incident and we assure you that your child is safe here on campus," he told parents in the letter. "The alleged incident occurred on campus … before school started. We are in the process of investigating the situation."

Tamura said in an interview that other employees were on campus at the time of the attack, and he emphasized that no children were in danger.

He added that the school, which has multiple pedestrian entrances, is eyeing its policies and procedures to determine what, if anything, can be done to improve security on campus.

The attack happened in a classroom near the back of the campus about an hour and 20 minutes before school started.

Yesterday a gate to the school’s parking lot was closed, and an employee was posted at the entrance.

Tamura did not say whether the security measure would be permanent. He said that in his four years as principal at the school, he never before had any security problems.

Michelle Yu, police spokeswoman, said the motive for the attack is unknown.

Police said the attackers, one of whom was described as in his 30s, entered the victim’s classroom. One or both punched and kicked the teacher, brandished a knife and demanded money.

The victim was then sexually assaulted.

The two suspects fled with a laptop, police said.

One of the suspects was described as husky, with curly hair. The other had a crew cut.

Neighbors of the school, nestled in a residential area just minutes from the Wahiawa police station, called the attack worrisome.

Many were awakened by the sounds of police sirens.

"It’s scary," said Karla Caban-Yamamoto, who lives adjacent to Wahiawa Elementary. "The school is supposed to be a safe place."

Francis Lopez, 30, who has lived near Wahiawa Elementary all his life, said the neighborhood is a quiet place where everybody looks out for one another.

"It’s safe over here," he said.

But in the wake of the violence on the school campus, Lopez said he and his family would be more vigilant.

Staff writers Gregg K. Kakesako and Leila Fujimori contributed to this report.