Student may not return to school
PHIL CAMPBELL — A 15-year-old high school student may not return to any campus in the Franklin County School District after allegedly making a terrorist threat on Sept. 2.
Franklin County Schools Superintendent Greg Hamilton said the student committed a Class III offense, which is listed in the school system’s handbook as one of the most serious offenses.
The handbook refers to a terroristic threat as “any willful act through verbal or written comments, social media, text message or other means of communication to cause fear or terror at school or at a school event; or causes groups of students to be fearful for their safety at school or at a school event.”
Per the handbook, the disciplinary actions could include suspension and recommendation for expulsion. That would be “pending a final determination of the matter by the board.”
Hamilton said Thursday morning the school board will act accordingly in conjunction with what law enforcement and the juvenile courts conclude.
The threat came into the high school after 11 p.m. on Sept. 2, according to Police Chief Jessica Clements.
Staff with the high school checked the school’s voicemail around 8:20 a.m. and heard a computer-generated voice notify the school of a possible bomb being located within the school.
After contacting a schoolresourceofficer,the school was immediately evacuated, and additional law enforcement agencies were called to the scene.
The Florence Police Bomb Squad swept the entire campus for more than an hour and found nothing.
Parents and guardians were allowed to check out their children for the remainder of the day. Some students stayed, according to Clements.
Law enforcement officials were able to identify the student by tracing the call and by acquiring an IP address, Clements said.
The student was located and brought into the Police Department for questioning.
Clements said the juvenile’s mother sat in on the police interview.
“The mother asked if he just wanted a half day out of school, and he shook his head yes,” Clements said.
The juvenile was arrested around 2 p.m. Sept. 3 and charged with first-degree making a terrorist threat.
He was booked into the Franklin County Detention Facility in Russellville.
Additional law enforcement patrols were assigned to the schools on Thursday and Friday.
