Threat concerns prompt student walkout

PRIEST RIVER — Concerns over possible threats and how they were handled prompted about 50 Priest River Junior High School students to walk out of school Tuesday morning.

Students staged the walkout after they said a student threatened another and, when they brought the matter to school officials’ attention, their concerns were not taken seriously.

Jennifer Rummerfield said she learned of the threats after her daughter came home from school concerned because a student allegedly made threatening comments. 

“He had also broken a ruler in half and was proceeding to pretend to stab students with it,” she said. “There were a couple of students that he had made contact with, but nobody was physically hurt.”  

When the student was at school last week, it seemed like the student had received no apparent punishment, and her daughter again came home concerned. 

While he understands students’ and parents’ frustration and concerns, West Bonner County School District Superintendent Joe Kren said the district is legally restricted in what it can say or share on matters involving students.

“There are things that we cannot say or things that we will not say with regards to a particular student or behavior, or how one thing is being addressed with regards to personnel concerns,” Kren said. “I’m legally bound not to do that.

“But I understand the parents’ frustration, because in their eyes, they don’t see anything being done, and I understand that and respect their concern. But it still does not release me to go ahead and say whatever I feel I want to say about any student that may or may not be involved.” 

Kren said while he may not be able to offer the details parents are looking for, he can assure them that the school — and their children — are safe. 

“... The principal and the staff are doing everything they can to make sure that the school is safe, and that a plan is in place to deal with behavior,” he said. 

However, those assurances prompted calls for him to make promises he cannot make, Kren said.

“Can I promise that there will never be any type of particular behavior they were concerned about?” Kren said. “Can I assure that will never happen again? No, I can’t. That’s just like trying to legislate bullying away. Can I assure that bullying will never occur in a building? No, I can’t. That’s unfortunate and it doesn’t shirk me of my responsibilities. What I can assure though is that we will hold students accountable.”

Kren visited the junior high to speak with parents and students during the protest to listen and to hear their concerns.

“Ultimately, it stemmed from a lot of students and parents feeling that they were not being heard, relative to behaviors that were going on in the school,” he said. “They also wanted assurance that the school was safe, which is only fair.”

In an email shared by one of the parents from Loretta Glazier, the PRJH principal told parents she took all threats seriously and would take “the necessary measures to ensure the safety of all students.”

In the email, Glazier said Sgt. Chris Davis, the PRJHS school resource officer, was at the junior high when three students reported that a student allegedly said he was going to “shoot up the school.” 

Glazier said she called the student into her office, where he stayed until a thorough investigation could be conducted to assess the situation. She, Davis and others reviewed security footage, interviewed students sitting near the student, interviewed the student, and concluded there “was no imminent threat.”

Students told their parents they had witnessed the student being “drug” out of the cafeteria by Davis. Glazier said the student was not drug from the cafeteria during lunch, but escorted out by Davis because the youth allegedly refused to comply with an adult directive.

“Since the initial concern was reported, the director of special services, his classroom teachers, Officer Davis, the parent, the school counselor, and I met as a team to discuss ways to help this student be successful at the junior high,” she said. “We will continue to monitor his behavior, and I, among others, meet and work with him when behavior concerns arise.”

After hearing about the rumors from her daughter, Rummerfield asked Glazier and Davis about the situation Thursday, urging them to either address it and debunk the rumors, or tell parents what steps were being taken to prevent future problems. Rummerfield claimed Glazier said the shooting claims stemmed from comments about “shooting zombies” the student made while joking around, and parents could contact her if they had any questions.

“I come from a small town that actually experienced a school shooting,” Rummerfield said. “I know people who lost family members and friends. Had my brother not stayed home from school that day, he would have been at the school. I do not take school shootings lightly.”

Other parents said they had no intention of singling anyone out but said they are disappointed in the school’s response to their concerns. 

“My disappointment is not with a child by any means — it’s the lack of communication from the school,” said one.  

The parent said she was planning on keeping her child home from school but changed her mind after receiving Glazier’s email detailing what had happened.

Her daughter told her that Tuesday’s school day began with an assembly about current circumstances, which was followed by the students walking out.

While frustrated with the response, the parent said she was impressed Kren went to the school to talk to the parents and students.

“[Kren] seemed to be doing a really good job,” Nikki said. “He went out there and addressed the students and talked to them directly, which I thought was fantastic of him to do. What he’s going to do at this point I do not know, but I was impressed by that.”

Kren said he will not dismiss any of the parents’ or students’ concerns.

“I have no right to do so, they are concerned parents, and it’s their children that they’re worried about, so I get it.”