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It’s never good when the superintendent starts off her remarks to the School Board saying,  “I wish we didn’t have to do this.”   May 8 North Branch Supt. Sara Paul gave Board members a brief rundown and summary of what has come out of the debriefing  on the active shooter threat at the high school May 6 that resulted in a lockdown.

The North Branch School Board May 8 had a chance to briefly discuss what  happened at the high school just two days before the regular Board meeting. 

The high school was placed in lockdown when a social media post was discovered May 6 about 10 a.m. seeming to depict a person with a firearm inside a  recognizable area in the high school.  

There was an arrest announced within hours, and an investigation is still underway.  No injury resulted and students were back to regular schedules by mid-day.

Many questions posed by Board members were not able to be answered, so soon after this incident, and members were assured there would be further review.  

Superintendent Sara Paul said families within the district are receiving a new communication from school officials; but there will be continued debriefing on the implemented procedure. 

Superintendent Paul said this was a “distressing’ incident even though the firearm that was confiscated was described by authorities as a “replica” and inoperable.

When North Branch high school safety protocols were activated May 6,  warning students and staff that a lockdown was being implemented, everybody understood this was not a drill.  That’s because North Branch does not do unannounced drills related to an alleged threat on the grounds or inside the building.  

Superintendent Paul said as of  (Friday May 9) a student family followup message is being accompanied by a handout, that outlines how parents and community members should and should not respond.

When there is a threat inside a school building the lockdown protocol requires anybody in the building to get out of sight, remain silent ad lock ancess doors. In the standard response protocols that North Branch utilizes and has trained  for,  Supt. Paul said the communication among law enforcement and school authorities proved to be exemplary and the threatening behavior was pinpointed and the alleged responsible partie(s) were identified in six minutes.      

School Board member Adam Trampe stated he wants the district to take “the hard line” on the suspect, who was immediately detained.  The prosecution of the minor-aged person needs to send a message the district doesn’t put up with this kind of offense, he concluded.

Board member Jesse LaValla this incident proves the need for policy and protocols and he said the administration and staffers showed they are to be trusted.

Board Chair Tim MacMillan added the community can be assured the safety of students and staff will remain as items for consideration on the Board agenda and in retreats. 

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