Parents in Kentucky are seriously concerned that a student teen who was reported to have compiled a kill list is allowed to return to school.
Last week, the Boone County Board of Education allowed the 14-year-old student to return to school after being expelled for showing the school admin his "kill list" that included classmates, despite being charged with second-degree terroristic threats.
According to Fox19, parents only knew about the student's return after the re-enrollment process had been completed and the teenager was already in the classroom with their children in Conner High School.
They are now sending a clear message to the school administrators - they do not want their children to be in the same room with someone who is alleged to have created a "kill list," which may include their kids.
Deanne Corbin, one of the worried parents, expressed at a school board meeting that even if the school is saying that the student has already gotten help, it does not change the fact that "he is still a threat."
Not the right decision, parents said
Rob Bidleman, whose child is said to be on the teen's "active kill list," expressed how emotionally devastated he was when he found out from the Conner High School principal, Andy Wyckoff, through a phone call. He said he could not think of anything else but that his child would be in danger every day when he is at school. His kid does not deserve that, nor does any of the kids in school, because they did nothing wrong.
Other parents empathized with Wyckoff as it was also reported that his son was on the list. Though he insisted that he would not move his son, some parents believe he is going through a tough situation, NBC News reported.
"I don't think it's the right decision for the administration. I think it puts an unnecessary burden on Mr. Wyckoff with his own son on that list. He has to be impartial every day yet give this kid what he needs. Obviously, this kid needs a community to get behind him to help him, because one day he's going to be in our society," parent Karen Wells declared.
Boone County School District Superintendent Matthew Turner released a statement Friday stating that "his hands are tied," urging parents to discuss the concern with their local state legislator instead.
He wrote that they are obliged to follow the state's law, and Kentucky's constitution provides the right to public education to every kid without prejudice.
He concluded his letter by assuring parents that the kids in school will be safe as appropriate safety measures are in place and that Conner High School is and will remain "a safe school."
Internet people are also against it
People are also making noise on the internet regarding the issue, and they are angry noises, Meaw News shared.
One Reddit user proclaimed that America has actually "given up" and is "pretending" that they are here to protect the children. The commenter further said that the country would not protect kids from violence, fund their education, or create a society, a world for these young people to live in.
Another commenter suggested that the teen should instead be homeschooled or get an education in an institution. The student should be put in a safe place where everyone, including him, will be safe.
Allegations about the teen surfaced in 2021 while he was enrolled at Conner High School. The school resource officer (SRO) was reportedly informed that the student owns a notebook containing a list of the people, including classmates, he wants to kill. It was said to include very specific acts of violence as the student wrote down the hows and even the wheres.
Detective Anthony Theetge said that the boy admitted that he was the one who wrote down all the details but had no plan to do what was written. He was "merely writing the thoughts down that were in his head," Theetge stated.
The student is also accused of making social media threats. The Boone County authorities took him into custody after two threats were reported.
Related Article: Parents to Be Held Accountable for School Threats Made by Their Kids
