SPOKANE -- The fate of the Mead High School junior who threatened to kill his teacher remains uncertain tonight.
He's facing felony harassment charges for what he calls a joke, but the boys possible expulsion and charges are drawing a lot of opinions.
At Mead, the principals have been inundated with calls from teachers, students and other staff members who are very divided over what should happen to the 16-year-old boy.
"I've known the kid for a long time. It just doesn't sound like something he would do, and I don't know what would have possessed him to do it," said Mead High School senior Jeremy Rise.
Mead parent Karen Crawford agreed, "this kid is probably a prankster. I think he learned his lesson," she said.
Everyone seems to have an opinion and many of those views are putting the school district in a tough position.
"Suspension at the most, maybe some counseling. I have a freshmen and a sophomore and they say things they don't mean and I would hate to see if they have a record," said Mead parent Judy Fuller.
"If the investigation comes out where it's a joke, his standing at the school and all of that will be considered, and if it's a positive thing he would get suspension," says Ralph Thayer with the Mead School District.
A former Ferris High School teacher, Michelle Klein says that whether it was a joke or not the issue shouldn't be taken lightly, "this teacher whether he's prosecuted or not and she sees that as justice, she has that moment for the rest of her life to live through."
Back in 2005, a disgruntled student threatened Klien via email and was expelled. Never thinking just a few months later he would bring a gun to school. "The young man later said he knew he could have shot me, he just didn't think he could turn the gun on himself in time," said Klein of the frightening ordeal.
She says even though a gun wasn't found this time, you just never know. "To go, oh he should get off because he's a kid. Well, good kids do bad things...the message needs to be out there and he said he was just kidding too. That if you make these choices, there's serious consequences," said Klein.
clluk said on October 31, 2009 at 3:23 PM
He's old enough to understand it is no joke! Sentence him to 5 yrs and LOL then tell him "that" was a joke and he will only have to serve 2!
Anonymous said on November 1, 2009 at 11:20 AM
I'm with you, clluk!!!!!!
daisydog said on November 2, 2009 at 5:53 AM
Fine his parents about $100,000---have the school district take the families first born male child, oh wait, It's all a joke......
technogeek said on November 2, 2009 at 11:43 AM
So if we don't treat this one serious, what's to keep any of the kids from doing something and then saying, "It was meant as a joke"? Counseling is only a start. Suspension is a must. I'm not sure a 16 yr old will benefit from jail time, but counseling, suspension and community service might not be a bad plan.
Anonymous said on November 2, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Why is this such a hard thing for school officials to figure out? I sure hope they do something! Without knowing the kid, it seems at least suspsending him for about 3 days would be appropriate, whether he's a "good" kid or not. If my daughter ever said this to a teacher, her dad and I both would be in that principal's office demanding they suspend her. And it would be quite some time that life outside of school was pleasant for her! And if she ended up with a police record, well, then that's what she earned for the behavior she chose. We need to stop forgoing the lesson of being accountable for bad decisions.