The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
District responds to threat
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: April 26, 2007
A note containing a "perceived threat" was found by a teacher in a Milan Middle School bathroom last Tuesday, prompting school officials to contact police and launch an investigation into the identity of the writer.
Advertisement
Milan Area Schools Superintendent Dennis McComb was careful not to disclose the content of the note, but said it appeared to be left where it would be found and that school administrators believed it was likely a hoax.
Nonetheless, in light of the recent violent tragedy at Virginia Tech, where 32 people were killed by a lone gunman, administrators took immediate steps after finding the note to get the police involved and initiated parts of the District Safety Plan.
"At no time did we believe our students were in danger," McComb said. "But we took it very seriously."
The school was not locked down, but middle school staff did discuss the seriousness of the issue with the students .
"(We talked about) the negative effects that this type of behavior can have on the educational environment, as well as the unnecessary burden that it can cause the staff, students and parents of our district," McComb said.
Following the Virginia Tech shooting, school campuses across the country saw a sharp rise in "threat hoaxes."
Administrators contacted parents whose children may have been involved in the incident, McComb said.
"Any parents whose children may have been involved have been very supportive," he said.
On Monday, a student admitted to writing the note, McComb said. He did not disclose the student's motive or reasoning for writing the note.
"I want to be very careful here," he said. "I'm meeting with the parents next week and there will be some disciplinary measures."
He declined to say specifically what discipline might be enacted.
The student could also face a series of charges, according to Milan Police Chief Jeff Lewis.
"We're going to take everything we have and forward it to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's office for review," he said. The prosecutor will determine what charges, if any, should be brought against the student.
McComb said incidents of this nature are rare, but are always taken seriously.
In a letter sent to middle school parents April 20 regarding the incident, McComb wrote, "Milan Area Schools is always concerned about student safety . . . We have ongoing procedures in place that allow for the daily safety of your student and have simply implemented further practices during this time of heightened concern."
Not all stories are guaranteed to appear
online. The Web edition contains a reasonable
sampling of the print edition stories.
For the most complete news coverage, we invite you to
subscribe
to the print edition of the paper.
Expanded
Web
Coverage
Staff Blog, "Inside The Newsroom"
TOP JOBS
