Parents scramble for answers in wake of belated report
by Amanda Rink, Editor
March 13, 2025- Parents are raising concerns after a recent school safety incident involving a reported firearm on school grounds. While school officials determined the report was unfounded, their response to the situation has left some families concerned.
Incident and Immediate Response – On Monday, March 10, a CGD Middle School student was reported to have brought a firearm onto the school bus. According to the school’s statement, which was released after the school board meeting on Thursday March 13, the administration at the middle school responded by removing the accused student from class and questioning them. After conducting their own investigation, school officials concluded there was no credible evidence of a firearm on campus and determined there was no threat to school safety.
However, no parents or teachers — as confirmed by the Wright County Monitor — were notified at the time. The first public mention of the report came two days later, during a school board meeting when a concerned parent appealed to the CGD Board of Education.
The parent, who will remain unnamed for privacy concerns, shared their frustration:
“[My child] came home and mentioned that a kid came to the school with a firearm. [My child] said that prior to this, the same kid had brought a knife to school.”
This parent’s concern extended beyond the firearm report itself. They were particularly upset that families weren’t informed directly by school officials.
“We want to know why the school didn’t notify us as parents. Why did we have to hear it from our kids?” the parent demanded.
Policy Violations- According to school policy, when a student reports a threat of violence, including the presence of a weapon, specific steps must be followed. The policy, titled “503.08 Discipline of Students Who Make Threats of Violence or Cause Incidents of Violence”, requires that:
“The principal or lead administrator will notify the parent or guardian of the student(s) who threatened or perpetrated an act of violence and the student(s) who the threatened or perpetrated act of violence was made against within 24 hours after receipt of the teacher’s report…”
In this case, no parents were notified within that timeframe. Instead, it wasn’t until the concerned parent addressed the school board that the administration at the district level acknowledged the incident publicly.
Superintendent Joseph Nelson later issued a statement online and through parent email explaining the situation:
“When school administration was made aware of the report on Monday, the student was immediately removed from class and was questioned. The investigation determined there was no credible evidence that there was a weapon on school grounds… We wanted to provide an update and clear up any rumors that may be circulating in our school community.”
While Nelson’s statement aimed to ease concerns, for some families and even staff members, the response was too little, too late.
Law Enforcement’s Perspective – Assistant Police Chief Bret Thompson weighed in on the situation, expressing that the Clarion Police Department did not hear of the incident until after the district released their statement. Police Chief Steve TeHark shared with The Wright County Monitor, “I did not see a threat to any students or the school after speaking with school officials.”
While police involvement isn’t explicitly stated as mandatory in the school policy, best practices for school safety strongly recommend contacting law enforcement immediately when a potential weapon is reported.
Moving Forward- The incident has sparked important conversations about school safety protocols, communication, the role of law enforcement in responding to potential threats, and transparency from the school.
While the school’s investigation ultimately found no evidence of a firearm, the lack of timely communication has left some families questioning whether their children’s safety was taken seriously.
“I’m not making excuses,” Superintendent Nelson said during the school board meeting. “I promise you, sir, this is the first [I’m hearing of this].”
Nelson then spoke privately with the parent before returning to the board meeting, where he acknowledged the school’s error: “I agree we should have done something.”
The concerned parent summarized their feelings by saying:
“We just want to make sure this doesn’t happen again, that when something serious like this happens, we know about it, and we know our kids are safe.”
As discussions continue, parents are urging the district to adopt stronger communication and safety protocols.
The Wright County Monitor has contacted the district for additional comments but had not received a response at the time of publication.
