By Mindy Ragan Wood
Staff Writer
Two alleged threats of violence in the last two weeks at Piedmont Middle School have some parents on edge and keeping their students at home.
A student was suspended two weeks ago after the student was accused of uttering threats of violence. A second accusation leveled at another student yesterday was unsubstantiated, an email from district officials show.
A parent who did not wish to be identified told the Piedmont-Surrey Gazette that parents only learned of the first incident Tuesday, even parents whose children “were on the hit list” and were interviewed by school officials were not notified of the matter or that their children were questioned. It was not known if school officials asked the students to keep it from their parents.
After the second student was accused, students told their parents they were afraid to attend school the next day and told them about the first incident two weeks before.
Social media erupted in outrage from parents who were in the dark about the student who was suspended.
Tuesday evening at 5:30 an email was sent out to parents stating the accusation made against the second student was not substantiated. It made no mention of the first incident.
Piedmont Police Chief Scott Singer confirmed that there was a report filed regarding the first student. He was out of the office Wednesday and a call to Deputy Chief Sterling Markel was not returned at press time.
Piedmont Board of Education member Greg Duffy said he was not informed of any threats of violence at the middle school or that a student had been suspended until Monday night when it was listed in Superintendent James White’s report to the board. White read from his report but did not read the portion regarding the student’s suspension. The student has reportedly returned to class.
Calls to White and Communications Director Lisa Campbell were not returned at press time.
