Stay safe
Any student concerned about suspicious behavior or who wants to report bullying or other issues can do so anonymously through SchoolMessenger Quick Tip. The anonymous messenger service is available through a link listed on the Hamilton County Department of Education main page: hcde.org.The service is also available as an application for smartphones.
A Photoshopped image of a student shooting a rifle at school, threats written on bathroom walls and a student arrested for carrying throwing knives in his backpack: These are last week's activities that have East Hamilton Middle/High School parents concerned.
In light of reports of a BB gun at Central High School - which led to the arrest of another student - threats at Signal Mountain Middle/High School and East Ridge Middle School, and continued concern over threats at Ooltewah High School, some parents have gone so far as to keep children home.
According to an article in last week's Times Free Press, 70 percent of Ooltewah High School students were absent March 1.
And Hamilton County School Assistant Superintendent Lee McDade said parents have every right to keep children home if they are concerned for their safety. However, he added, students will still be held accountable for work due during the missed class time.
"We want parents to feel safe," he said.
Safety is a sentiment EHMHS Principal Gail Chuy echoed during the evening meeting she called last Thursday, inviting parents to participate in a dialogue and voice their thoughts. As the principal of a school facing several threats and the arrest in the throwing knives incident, she said she understands the fear many parents have expressed to her.
"Columbine happened. Sandy Hook happened. This is the new normal. We aren't immune to this," one mother, who asked not to be named, said during the meeting. She went on to ask about the likelihood of metal detectors, better security video cameras and other safety measures.
Chuy said while all threats and reports of potential threats have been taken seriously, she sees no need for metal detectors yet.
"I don't want to make this sound like I don't take this seriously but I heard kids say 'Oh, Ooltewah kids get a day out of school,' and that has an impact on the teenage brain," she said. "It makes them do things they otherwise wouldn't do - they're teenagers."
Kevin Mullins, the father of EHMHS ninth-grader Dylan Mullins, said he and his family commend Chuy for handling the situation. Dylan, who also attended last week's meeting, said he felt safe at the school.
Should a threat prove to be credible, the principal said, lockdown procedures are in place just like in every other school, and the procedure was practiced earlier this year.
Until the threats and concerns stop coming in, officials will continue to investigate, McDade and Chuy agreed.
The day following their meeting, another threat was found on the bathroom walls at Ooltewah High and a girl was suspended for the remainder of the year in connection.
By press time, another student had been arrested for assault of a teacher in East Ridge. Hamilton County Juvenile Court Administrator Sam Mairs previously told the Times Free Press that making false threats is a Class C felony in Tennessee, and can be punished with three to five years in jail and a fine of $10,000.
"Hopefully kids will settle down and we can get back to the business of having school," said Chuy.
Staff writer Kendi Anderson contributed to this story.