Web posted
Friday, February 8, 2008
Rumor mill
Latest story could be stopped with new system
From STAFF REPORTS
Rumors about a planned shooting at Arkansas City High School earlier this week could be averted with a new system the district has decided to install.
At a recent board meeting a plan was announced to install an emergency notification system by which the schools can notify people about situations quickly. The software can send e-mails, make calls and send text messages to whomever the district wants the message to get to.
The rumor this week proved unfounded as police and school officials say the student who made the report later admitted he had made the story up.
But Wednesday police were called to the school to check on the report.
According to police reports the student, a 15-year-old male, told police that two other students had said they were going to do a shooting at the high school. Police then interviewed the two students, who denied any knowledge of the alleged plan.
Later, police say the student admitted to making up the story to try to get the other students in trouble.
The first student was charged with making a criminal threat and was released to his parents. School officials said the student was suspended while disciplinary action was taken.
Superintendent Ron Ballard said it was not an emergency situation, and just a repeated rumor that was investigated.
"We cannot notify all parents every time there is a rumor going around school," he said.
But he said the new system would allow school officials to notify parents whenever they feel there is a need.
They will be able to break the notification down into groups, such as parents only, students only, or members of a specific group like a sports team.
This week however, parents were disgruntled about the situation.
Angie Williams said she found out about the situation from her daughter when the girl returned from class that morning.
She said she had heard that there was a student threatening to bring a firearm to school and shoot at students and teachers.
Her daughter said there were four officers at the school.
Both Williams and Victoria Kendrick were upset that the school did not notify them of the situation more quickly.
"If its severe enough that police were involved, parents should know," Kendrick said.
Both parents called the office of the Superintendent of USD 470 and said that they were told that the rumors were found to be "unsubstantiated," and that the police were simply present as a "preventative". Williams' daughter said she saw four policemen at the high school.
Kendrick says that she will allow her sons to return to school, while Williams plans to keep her daughter home and go to the school to pick up her schoolwork herself.
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