Police arrested a student at Central Junior High this week after he threatened to shoot an assistant principal, and he faces disciplinary actions from the school district as well.
The 14-year-old male student, whose name was not released by police or school officials, was booked into the Douglas County Youth Services Facility but later released to his parents. His first appearance in court for a criminal threat will be in mid-November.
The incident happened at 8:30 a.m. Monday at Central Junior High, 1400 Mass.
Lawrence Police Sgt. George Wheeler said the student disrupted class and was sent to serve an in-school suspension. At that point, Wheeler said, the student threatened to shoot a male assistant principal.
School officials called police.
"Actions were taken," Principal Ted Juneau said. "Obviously, it's a confidential matter with this student, but we've taken appropriate steps as per policy."
Nettie Collins-Hart, assistant superintendent for instruction and curriculum, said she wasn't aware of this particular case because the junior high is assigned to another administrator who was sick Tuesday, but the district has policies to deal with criminal threats.
"If, in fact, a threat was made on a teacher's life, there is a policy that the student would be excused from school," Collins-Hart said Tuesday.
Short-term suspensions can cover a variety of offenses, but threatening the life of a district employee calls for a long-term suspension, which could be until the end of the year. In that case, Collins-Hart said, a suspension hearing will be scheduled.
-- Chris Koger's phone message number is 832-7126. His e-mail address is ckoger@ljworld.com.
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.