MCHS expects calm Friday despite threats

MCHS expects calm Friday despite threats

April 19, 2001

By Aspen C. Emmett
Journal Staff Writer

Law-enforcement officers and school administrators are preparing for the second round of heightened security tomorrow at Montezuma-Cortez High School as a response to the recent rumors of Columbine copycat threats.

Last Friday, also a target date for the rumored violence, passed quietly with low student attendance and a high presence of police officers at the school. Officials are expecting April 20, the anniversary of the Columbine school shooting, to be just as uneventful.

"It will be about the same as last week," said Cortez Police Chief Roy Lane.

Three or four extra officers will be stationed at the school with additional patrol in the vicinity of the high school as well as around Cortez Middle School, Lane said.

Meanwhile, there have been no arrests or expulsions of the three students implicated in the rumors to "kill all the jocks."

Lane said that although his department had not completed the investigation, he does not expect any legal action to be taken against the three sophomore boys.

Search warrants were executed early last week at all three boys’ homes and police collected computers, software, notebooks, weapons and other items that were considered to be potential evidence.

Although there were several writings about death and anger as well as an American flag hanging upside down bearing holes and satanic symbols, none of the items seized contained a "hit list" or evidence to suggest the students had been plotting any specific acts of violence against their fellow students, Lane said. The weapons were taken as a precautionary measure and will likely be returned after tomorrow.

The computers and software were sent to the Denver office of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for retrieval of any evidence that might suggest school violence, but so far, there has been no word from the CBI about their findings.

"We haven’t heard a word from them ... it’s just whenever they get to it up there," Lane said. "We’re just about at a standstill (with the investigation)."

Lane said the investigation did not include any other students as suspects, although several others were questioned to help substantiate the claims.

Bill Thompson, superintendent of Re-1 schools, said administrators and staff are planning for a basically normal school day, despite the heightened awareness and school security.

"They’re planning to run a regular school day," Thompson said. "We will take precautionary measures by keeping several of the doors locked so we can have a better handle on what people are entering. Between the police department, the high school and the central office, we feel we have at our fingertips what’s necessary to make the school a safe place."

The school has received calls from parents pre-excusing their children from classes tomorrow, but Thompson believes there will be fewer absences than on April 13.

"I would like to see us getting the school back to running normal and we’d really like to have all the students there," he said.

Last week, two of the student suspects were asked by administrators to stay home from school. They have since returned to class.

"They didn’t do an official suspension on paper, but they asked the parents to keep the kids home," Thompson said. "If that hadn’t occurred, there would have been an official suspension."

Further disciplinary action hinges on what, if anything, is discovered on the computers.

On Tuesday, MCHS administrators brought in two counselors from the West Employees Assistance Program of Durango to work with students and staff on bullying and other problems that can generate anger among students.

"I would hate to point fingers at just athletes," Thompson said. "There are some kids in our school — like there are in all schools — that have a bullying tendency and pick on other kids. I think that in itself causes a reaction. We all have a breaking point.

"Years ago, people used to walk away from it. The reaction any more seems to be, ‘I’ll get even or maybe even more than even.’ So we need to address both sides of this issue because there’s a cause and effect here."

Thompson added that the school has four counselors who, along with administrators, are continuing to address concerns surrounding school violence.

School officials do not expect there to be any other dates that students, staff and parents should be concerned about past April 20.

"There’s always concern for student safety every day we’re in session, but I don’t know of any reason to have a heightened level of concern for any one day more than another, other than the 13th and 20th," Thompson said.

Thompson said he appreciated the help and cooperation of the police department, which provided extra security during the difficult time.

"They’ve been super and helped us out an awful lot."