Rumors circulating at Southwest Middle School and Albert Lea High School about possible school violence today have been thoroughly investigated and found to be groundless, but that didn’t stop many students from staying home from school.

Friday, April 20, 2001

Rumors circulating at Southwest Middle School and Albert Lea High School about possible school violence today have been thoroughly investigated and found to be groundless, but that didn’t stop many students from staying home from school. The school day came and went without major incident.

ALHS principal Al Root said attendance was slightly below average today.

&uot;It’s not as bad as we thought it would be,&uot; Root said.

Parent concerns about the rumors prompted Superintendent Dr. David Prescott to address local media Thursday to assure the community that the district has dealt with the situation.

&uot;Every rumor that we are aware of has been taken apart in the attempt to find the source,&uot; Prescott said in a prepared statement. &uot;None of the rumors have been found to have any substance.&uot;

Prescott said two or three students have been disciplined for making threatening comments. Each school building in the district is at &uot;a greater sense of alert&uot; due to the rumors, he said.

&uot;Every effort is being made to ensure that our buildings are safe today and every day,&uot; Prescott said.

According to Assistant Chief Dwaine Winkels of the Albert Lea Police Department, extra officers were assigned to both schools, and some assisted school officials in a locker search at Southwest. Winkels said the department investigated the rumors all week but found no truth to them.

&uot;We’re pretty confident all the rumors we’ve got, we’ve checked out and they’re unsubstantiated.

Prescott said the rumors are distracting and difficult for students and staff, especially at Southwest where most of the rumors are concentrated.

&uot;Rumors and idle gossip are a very expensive addition to the educational process,&uot; he said, adding that administrators and support staff have spent considerable time dealing seriously with the rumors.

Many of the rumors hit the community after a KATE Radio &uot;Party Line&uot; broadcast Wednesday when a few parents shared concerns for their children’s safety on the show. Prescott said he received three calls from parents that afternoon.

&uot;I know there are some kids who are genuinely afraid because of all the talk, but I cautioned the parents to think carefully before keeping their children home from school,&uot; Prescott said. &uot;It’s strictly a parent decision, but I don’t think we should give in to rumors.&uot;

Brian Berning has a daughter in ninth grade at the high school and an eight-year-old child at Sibley. He chose to keep both students home from school Friday.

&uot;I don’t want to take the chance of anything happening,&uot; Berning said.

His daughter had heard rumors of students planning to bring weapons to school and had heard of students being interviewed for hours by administrators.

&uot;My daughter came home (Wednesday) terrified,&uot; Berning said.

Berning thinks the district should have seriously considered calling off school for the day, arguing that if district officials are concerned enough about the rumors to add security, they should be worried enough to cancel schools.

&uot;If these kids are going to threaten to do things at the high school, they should cancel school, or at least inform parents what is going on,&uot; Berning said. He said family friends are also keeping their kids out of school.

Anna Haug and Heidi Morreim, both high school seniors, said Thursday they’ve heard the rumors, but planned to attend school anyway.

&uot;I know some kids whose parents are keeping them home,&uot; Haug said Thursday.

Morreim said she heard there would be one additional officer at the high school as a precaution. A lock-down may also be instituted.

&uot;I guess they have to take the rumors seriously,&uot; she said.

Junior Natalie Runden went to school Friday knowing other high schools across the country are dealing with tensions and rumors on the Columbine shooting anniversary.

&uot;It is pretty scary, and anyone with any common sense would be a little nervous, but I doubt the threats at our school will amount to anything,&uot; Runden said.