KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A local school is working to reassure students and parents of its safety precautions after a student’s remark made during class last week raised concerns.
Kelseyville High School Principal Matt Cockerton said a male student blurted out what he called an “inappropriate comment” that was heard by a few students in a classroom setting, where a substitute teacher was present.
The boy’s comment was made in the early afternoon of Friday, Dec. 14, hours after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. – where 20 young students and six teachers and staff were shot to death by a lone gunman – had occurred, Cockerton said.
Cockerton would not disclose to Lake County News the student’s comment, and couldn’t answer many other questions about the matter due to confidentiality rules governing students.
He did not consider the comment a threat. “I don’t think it was something he’s planning,” Cockerton said.
However, he added, “We’ve taken all the necessary precautions.”
Those precautions include notifying both law enforcement and district officials, he said.
“The sheriff’s department was brought into the loop, as was our board,” Cockerton said.
Cockerton said school officials also have spoken with both the student and his parents.
Kelseyville resident Sarah Ryan said she was concerned after hearing from her daughter, who attends Kelseyville High, that the student had made a threatening comment. Ryan’s daughter didn’t hear the comment directly.
Ryan said she and her husband spoke to Cockerton at a Wednesday night concert at the school. He wouldn’t disclose to her what the student’s comment was, but said it was being addressed.
She said she wished school officials would have handled the matter by directly speaking to students and parents in order to help dispel the resulting concerns. Ryan said she’s aware of other parents who called Cockerton as well, seeking answers.
Cockerton said it has been a challenge addressing parents’ concerns, with much of the information around the incident having been embellished by rumors and student discussions on social media.
With parents, students and schools already on edge due to the Connecticut shooting, it leaves Cockerton concerned that parents are becoming unnecessarily fearful.
“We’re not going to turn our back on something like this,” Cockerton said. “We’re going to address it 100 percent and take every precaution.”
In speaking with Lake County News on Thursday, District Superintendent Dave McQueen also emphasized that the school had followed all the necessary precautions and that the school was safe.
McQueen posted a letter on the district’s Web page on Thursday that discussed security concerns for the district as a whole in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.
The letter, which can be seen in its entirety below, did not specifically address the high school student’s comments last week.
In the letter, McQueen explained that each school site is required by law to have a safety plan developed by staff and the school site council, and approved by the Kelseyville Unified School Board.
“As of last Friday, I have asked each school site within the District to review these safety procedures with staff and students. Over the next month, each school will be discussing, practicing and adding to their school safety plans in order to prevent what happened in Connecticut,” McQueen wrote. “While we have been doing many of those things already, there is always need for improvement when it comes to safety.”
Separately, at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Board Chair Rob Brown said sheriff’s officials were considering how to reestablish a school resource officer for county schools.
Ryan said she just wanted to know that the school is taking the matter seriously, and she wants her children to be safe.
She said her sister lives an hour from Sandy Hook Elementary. “It kind of brought it home,” she said of the shooting, which she called both heartbreaking and terrifying.
Kelseyville High wants to make sure students are safe, said Cockerton.
“I hope there’s enough trust that they trust we’ll do the right thing,” he said of parents.
The full text of McQueen’s letter is below.
A Tragedy That Affects Us All
December 20, 2012
Dear Parents, Staff and Students,
Kelseyville Unified School District is well aware of the tragedy that occurred in Connecticut and is saddened by this horrific event. Kelseyville Unified School District is taking precautions to keep each student, staff member and school site safe.
As required by law, each school site has a safety plan that was developed by staff, the school site council and approved by the Kelseyville Unified School Board. As of last Friday, I have asked each school site within the District to review these safety procedures with staff and students. Over the next month, each school will be discussing, practicing and adding to their school safety plans in order to prevent what happened in Connecticut. While we have been doing many of those things already, there is always need for improvement when it comes to safety. If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to give input, I encourage you to speak with your child’s principal.
Kelseyville Unified School District takes the safety of its students and staff seriously. I have personally been in contact with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and am pleased that they will be working with our district to immediately help secure a safe environment and respond to each situation accordingly. Officers have already visited sites and will periodically be on campuses for safety as well as helping in the implementation and future development of safety plans and procedures.
Kelseyville Unified School District grieves with our nation for the victims at Newtown, Connecticut. I know that the Kelseyville Community will work together to ensure that our schools will continue to be a safe haven. We are here to educate, protect and encourage your child. May we all experience true peace over this Winter Break and think about those things which we hold dear.
Sincerely,
Dave McQueen
Superintendent
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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