UPDATED 11:15 P.M.
RCMP say a threat to KSS Thursday afternoon has been deemed not valid.
UPDATED 9:25 P.M. WITH INFORMATION FROM SD 23 DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT TERRY BEAUDRY:
Terry Beaudry, Deputy Superintendent of the Central Okanagan School District, said escalating concerns over an inappropriate comment made by a Mount Boucherie student are unfounded.
“We’ve been working through a very difficult situation the last week,” Beaudry told Global News Thursday night.
“A student made a comment that they shouldn’t have made,” Beaudry said. “It was made in earshot of other students.”
While details of the comment were not released, Beaudry said it was thoroughly investigated by RCMP working with the SD 23 threat assessment team.
The group determined the there was no risk to students or staff stemming from the comment.
Beaudry said any talk of further threats made by the student on social media are false and part of the escalating rumours.
Privacy for the student is the reason Beaudry gives for not revealing any discipline over the matter.
When asked if she would send her own child to school Friday at Mount Boucherie, Beaudry said, “absolutely. Without hesitation.”
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She reiterates the district’s offer for emotional support if students or parents are having a difficult time dealing with the concern.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Social media has exploded with concern over a alleged threat made at Mount Boucherie Secondary School in West Kelowna.
Students and parents said they plan on not attending the school on Friday, March 9, the day identified in the alleged threat.
School District 23 would not reveal the nature of, what they called, the non-credible threat.
Posts on social media alleged the boy was given a one-day suspension for the incident.
“Here in Kelowna, teachers and admin are upset that parents won’t let kids come to school on Friday. When has our education been more important than our well being?” said Kristina Pateman, who posted at length about the incident on Facebook, a post that was shared more than 600 times.
The threat came to light when a letter went home to parents earlier in the week which said RCMP were involved in the investigation and it was not deemed credible by the school district and police.
A second letter was posted Thursday at 6 p.m. on the Mount Boucherie website from Kevin Kaardal, Superintendent of School District 23.
“I want to assure the community that all staff and students are safe at Mount Boucherie Secondary School and school continued in the usual fashion today,” Kaardal stated in the letter.
Kardaal said “… this is not a credible threat and school will be in operation as usual tomorrow.”
“…we understand how rumours and misinformation have affected member of our school community.”
Because students and parents have only heard information from each other about the alleged threat, they’re left to wonder what is true.
School Board Chair Moyra Baxter declined comment on the issue Thursday evening.
“I’m not going to go on camera with this,” Baxter told Global News after we requested an interview.
Kaardal said anyone requiring additional support or have questions or concerns about the threat should contact school administration.
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