Schools
Old Quarry Nabs Student Responsible for Latest Bomb Threat
Stricter classroom measures and staff bathroom checks helped school staff narrow down the list of students who could have scrawled the latest threat—with one ultimately claiming responsibility.
Classroom sign-out procedures and staff bathroom checks helped Old Quarry staff identify the student responsible for a fake bomb threat written on a bathroom wall Monday.
Staff were able to pinpoint the threat's time of origin, and focused on students out of the classrooms during that span. Staff, police and Principal Caron then interviewed the students—and one ultimately took responsibility for the unsubstantiated threat, according to a notice from Principal William Caron.
"Appropriate disciplinary actions will be administered for those involved," Caron wrote. "We will continue to use the bathroom procedures put in place after other incidents, as they were our primary way of resolving this most recent threat."
The threat was the fourth since the beginning of the school year, each of which led to a soft lockdown while staff and police investigated.
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Parents have been demanding answers after the multiple instances. Some have started an online petition seeking action from Old Quarry Principal William Caron, interim Superintendent Dr. Pamela Hollich, and the District 113A board. Parents have requested better communication from administration, including notification of such threats.
"It is unacceptable for this to continue," the petition reads. "Action is needed to prevent these threats from continuing and to find and punish those involved in making the threats.
"Our children’s education is being disrupted and their safety compromised."
Principal Caron recognized the parents' concern Tuesday.
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"We appreciate the concern that many of our parents expressed during these interruptions to our students’ learning and the cooperation and support we have had from our community," Caron wrote. "Old Quarry is not just a middle school with over 1,000 students; it is a center of the community with students who reflect the high standards we have for them.
"However, sometimes our students make mistakes in judgment. That is when our community comes together to help our kids learn and grow."
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