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41 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, March 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 22, 2004 School takes precautions over shooting threat By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune McLoughlin Middle School will be on alert after a note found Thursday in a student’s locker targeted a list of students for shooting this week. Principal Amy Tiger said officials have identified a suspect and that the student won’t be in school in the coming week. The same student also was linked to graffiti at Howard Elementary School earlier this month that threatened violence on Feb. 27, she said. School officials are working with Medford police to provide protection at the middle school campus and to follow all leads, Tiger said. "As principal, I would feel comfortable sending my own child to school," she said. The note named seven students who would be targeted in a shooting between Feb. 23-27, Tiger said. School officials notified the families of those students and have maintained close communication with them to deal with needs as they arise, she said. Advertisement The school sent a letter home with all students Friday to inform parents of the threatening note. The letter explained that classes would continue as scheduled this week and that school officials and police would continue to investigate and protect students. The letter advised parents to call the school if they had questions or information to share. Several concerned parents called the Mail Tribune newsroom seeking details Saturday because no one was available at the middle school over the weekend. Some wanted additional information to help them decide whether to send their kids to school and others worried that the school wasn’t keeping the whole community informed. All schools have a procedure for evaluating threats in cooperation with police, Tiger said. "Working with kids, you never know if they are serious or if they are kidding around," she said. "In this day and age, we take every one seriously." As officials assessed information from Thursday’s note, they decided direct contact with the families of the listed students and a letter to all parents was the best way to deal with the threat, Tiger said. Howard Elementary already had sent a letter home about the graffiti discovered earlier, she said. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times