Some teachers, students stay home after student threatened teacher at Carrboro middle school
Almost two dozen staff members didn't show up for work Monday at a Carrboro middle school after a student threatened staff members last week. Twenty-three staff members were absent from McDougle Middle School Monday; 17 of those were related to worries about school safety a spokesman said.
"I’m writing to let you know that we are expecting a higher than usual number of staff absences on Monday," Principal Chris Horne said in a message to the McDougle Middle School community.
After that message went out, some parents picked their children up early, with one of them telling WRAL News that the student who made the threat last week was in the building on Monday.
Horne said a threat assessment team had reviewed the situation, and that a school resource officer who usually rotates among schools was on the McDougle campus all day. He also said there was stepped up adult supervision in hallways and additional classroom check-ins.
Chapel Hill and Carrboro City Schools spokesperson Andy Jenks said the school is trying to balance safety with student privacy.
Jenks granted, "It can be unnerving, sometimes frustrating, to families and staff when the specific details of those arrangements aren't made public."
WRAL News on Monday spoke with a staff member who believes the student is a serious safety threat and is concerned the student is not getting the help they need. The same employee told WRAL News they believe the proposed safety plan is not sustainable, adding they are upset with the district's handling of the situation.
"We're looking out for not just the best interests of a particular student but also the best interests of everybody else who's inside the school at this time," Jenks said. "Both of those can be true at the same time, but it's up to us to work with everyone involved to develop that shared understanding."
Jenks said substitute teachers and other staff covered Monday's vacancies, so no classes were canceled.
Tuesday is a teacher work day at the school.
Carrboro police have confirmed a juvenile petition was filed on the student for threats of mass violence on an educational property.
