KINGSTON — Comments posted on MySpace earlier this week caused unnecessary heartache and fear at Kingston Junior High School.
On April 30, a rumor began circulating through Kingston Junior High about a possible act of violence being planned at the school on May 15.
It turned out to be just that.
In a letter prepared by KJH Principal Susan Wistrand sent home to parents and guardians of KJH students Friday, district officials said, after a thorough investigation by the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office and the Kingston Junior High school resource officer, they’re confident the rumor was unfounded.
“We’re confident that the rumor is untrue and that it will be safe for your students to be in school on May 15,” Wistrand wrote in the letter. “When this rumor first surfaced, we asked students who had heard the rumor for written statements outlining what they had heard and who they heard it from. Because of the serious nature of the rumor, we worked closely with our school’s resource officer and the Kitsap County Sheriff’s department to investigate whether or not this rumor could be true.”
Following a thorough investigation May 1 in which 26 students were interviewed, the KCSO and North Kitsap School District administration determined the rumor was untrue.
“The sheriff’s department and our school administration have conducted a full investigation, and we have found no evidence to support the rumor. We are continuing to investigate any further information we receive about this situation,” Wistrand wrote.
NKSD director of community relations Chris Case said the rumor has had an extremely negative impact on the entire KJH community.
“It took a lot of time due to the sheriff and the school’s investigation. The rumors were very disruptive to classes at KJH,” Case said. “It raises apprehension amongst everyone. Especially after what happen at Columbine and Virginia Tech. Something like this plays on people’s fears.”
Wistrand said KJH will do everything it can to ensure the safety of its students.
“We want to assure you that we do everything possible to assure that your students will be safe at school on May 15 and every day. We know how precious each child in our care is, we take their safety very seriously,” she wrote.
