Arizona school principal resigns over failure to alert police to threat
Apr 3, 2018, 6:59 AM | Updated: 7:09 am
(Google Maps)
(Google Maps)
PHOENIX — The principal of an Arizona middle school that was the target of a potential bomb threat that initially went unreported to police has resigned.
In a Facebook post dated Monday from the Globe Unified School District superintendent’s office, the letter said the administrator at High Desert Middle School knew about a “map and plan for homemade bombs and handguns.”
Globe is about 90 miles east of Phoenix in Gila County.
Authorities learned of the possible danger March 29 after a parent told them what her child had heard the day before.
Globe Police launched an investigation Thursday and later charged four students with felonies, including terrorist threats. The unnamed administrator was charged with endangerment.
The students were also suspended.
“This incident has brought to light the fact that we need to make sure that staff does not become complacent and that all of our safety protocols are updated,” the school district’s letter said.
The letter added that the district had requested a school resource officer but hadn’t been assigned one yet because of funding issues.
“All threats made to our students, staff and schools will be taken seriously.”
The office promised to post its threat-assessment protocols to its website for parents to read.
In the meantime, the investigation has continued.
“The school district is fully cooperating with our Globe Police Department to handle the situation,” police spokeswoman Linda Oddonetto told KTAR News 92.3 FM the day the investigation began.
