Threats
against
two students at
Thurmont Middle
By Richard D. L. Fulton
News Editor
THURMONT,
Md. – Thurmont Middle School Principal Barbara G. Keiling
sent letters to parents Nov. 15 about an ongoing investigation
into threats made against two students.
Middle
school staff have been investigating the source of several
student-specific “threat” letters discovered a
month ago. The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office is
conducting an investigation as well. School administrators
believe that a school staff member may have planted the notes.
“I’m
writing to inform you about some disquieting activities. …
During the past month, our administration team has become
aware of and has been investigating threatening notes targeting
two … students,” Keiling wrote.
She stated
that notes were found in different areas of the school, and
that one had been found on the windshield of a vehicle parked
off school grounds.
“Sadly,
we have reason to suspect a staff member may be responsible,
“ she wrote, adding, ”That individual is not in
school now, and, pending the outcome of our investigation,
FCPS (Frederick County Public Schools) will take appropriate
disciplinary action. …”
Keiling
said school administrators “have taken all appropriate
measures to address this situation.”
The FCPS
investigation is related to possible internal disciplinary
action. Any criminal action would result from the sheriff’s
office investigation.
Marita
Loose, FCPS communications director, confirmed that the vehicle
involved belongs to the parents of one of the threatened students.
However, she could only say there were “a few notes”
involved in the overall incident, and could not give the actual
number. She said FCPS intends to conclude its investigation
the week of Nov. 21.
Loose
added that counseling services would be provided to students
if requested either by them or by parents as a result of the
incidents, and said they should contact the school to request
counseling.
Deputy
Jennifer Bailey, spokesperson for the Frederick County Sheriff’s
Office, told The Dispatch that the investigation
is still open, and that “at this point we are not confirming
who we are looking at.”
Bailey
said the threats were being handled by the sheriff’s
office criminal investigation section. “It could be
a lengthy investigation,” she added, noting that the
board of education is “being very cooperative.”
