UPDATE @ 11 p.m. (March 14)
Tipp City schools administrators and city police talked with Tippecanoe Middle School parents tonight about the district's safety protocols and communications with the community about alleged threats and response.
The meeting was scheduled amid concerns by parents about the handling of a possible threat reported after school was dismissed Thursday, March 9.
About three dozen parents attended the discussion that lasted more than an hour.
Some parents criticized the timing and vagueness of a "one-call" automated phone message to parents sent out at the request of Superintendent Gretta Kumpf around 9:45 p.m. Thursday after the police department and others received numerous calls about rumors in the community including on social media.
Middle School Principal Greg Southers said he at the time "did not have any facts so I was very limited in what I could share." Kumpf said because of "a lot of misinformation" in the community "my thought was we need to let parents know so they are aware" there was an investigation.
Some of the parents said the lack of information contained in the call heightened their concern about sending their children to school Friday. Others said added police presence the following day and staff on hand when students arrived was reassuring for them and their children.
Southers and Kumpf emphasized that the investigation involved talking with the student and parent making the initial allegation, checking a school computer - on which nothing inappropriate was found - and meeting with the accused student and parents.
Clay Lavercombe, assistant Middle School principal, said the "situation has been handled appropriately ... and that is what we can tell you per privacy laws."
One parent said she was concerned that there was no follow up on Friday or subsequent days with the students. Another suggested that because the automated call time is limited that the district make preparations so that during future situations more information could be made available on the district website to help increase awareness. Another mother and father repeatedly asked for more details on protocol and said they were aware of previous threats that were not reported to other parents.
– NANCY BOWMAN, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
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EARLIER (March 10)
Concerns about the handling of a possible Tippecanoe Middle School threat prompted the district to schedule a parent meeting on Tuesday.
Tipp City Exempted Village Schools Superintendent Gretta Kumpf sent a letter to parents on Friday regarding the threat reported late Thursday afternoon.
The letter stated that a parent alerted the district that a middle school student was planning a potentially harmful act at the school on Friday.
Kumpf said the district contacted Tipp City police and conducted a comprehensive search of the implicated student’s personal and school electronic devices. Also, school officials and Tipp City police met with the student and student’s parents, and the issue was addressed, Kumpf said.
“Our first concern is the safety of students and staff. Before notifying families, it is imperative that we assess the validity of any threat so we can provide timely, accurate information if necessary,” Kumpf stated in her letter.
She urged parents and students with concerns to contact administrators directly.
“Much of the heightened concerns arose from rumors and social media posts that were proven inaccurate,” Kumpf stated.
The meeting is scheduled for 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Tippecanoe Middle School Media Center, 555 N. Hyatt St.
