by Austin Marsman
There is apparent fallout closer to home this week from the mass shootings on Valentines Day at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.
Authorities took an Otsego High School student into custody Tuesday after a peer allegedly overheard threats about committing violence at the school. Meanwhile, superintendents of all schools in the Allegan Education Services Agency have signed on to an official statement in response to the Feb. 14 tragedy.
The student, a senior at Otsego High School, was reported to have made a threat while on a bus leaving the Allegan Tech Center Monday. Neither the police nor Otsego Public Schools have described the threat. Further information about the student has yet to be released, including how he or she was detained.
At least one parent who was in contact with her son, who is also a student at the school, indicated that the threat was to shoot up the high school, and that the teen involved supposedly told his friends to stay home on Thursday.
In an e-mail to parents, Otsego Public Schools Superintendent Jeffery Haase wrote, “While it is not clear whether this was a credible threat or not, we take this very seriously and will continue to work with law enforcement as they continue their investigation.”
Haase also said in the email that another student came forward to tell administrators about the conversation.
Parents received an automated phone call about the arrest at midday Tuesday.
Referring to school officials, Haase wrote, “We talked with other students who also heard the same information. Safety is a top priority at Otsego Public Schools and we want to commend these students for… alerting us to this situation.”
He added that Otsego Police Chief Gordon Konkle does not believe there is any danger to the school, there will be a police presence in the high school this week, “but plan to operate as normal and feel our kids are safe.”
Hasse, a co-signer on a recent safety letter by AAESA Superintendents, encourages students to speak up if they see something threatening.
Local superintendents sent their communities a message. The letter, dated Friday, Feb. 16, begins “We again see faces of children, parents, and school staff shocked by another tragedy. We cannot accept these tragedies as a normal part of life in America.”
The superintendents, according to the letter, said they want the public to know that they are committed to school safety. They also are seeking the community’s help, encouraging people to learn the warning signs of a possible shooter.
The letter was signed by Superintendent Kevin Harness (Allegan); Jim Greydanus (Fennville); Scott Morgan (Glenn); Gary Wood (Hopkins); David Harnish (Martin); Jeff Haase (Otsego); Matt Montange (Plainwell); Norm Taylor (Wayland); and William Brown (AAESA).
The letter comes as students across the country plan to walk-out Tuesday, March 14, demanding action on gun control and school safety.
