Fallout from shooting by first-grader includes staff shakeup

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Fallout from shooting by first-grader includes staff shakeup

By DENISE LAVOIE
January 27, 2023

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — The fallout from the shooting of a teacher by a 6-year-old student in Virginia has prompted a staff shakeup in the Newport News school district.

In addition to the firing of Superintendent Gary Parker this week, the principal and assistant principal of Richneck Elementary School have left their jobs. A longtime principal in the school district has been named to lead the school as it prepares to reopen next week.

The shooting by a first-grade boy on Jan. 6 stunned Newport News, a city of about 185,000 located 70 miles (113 kilometers) southeast of Richmond, and has reverberated around the country, raising questions about school security and how a child so young gained access to a gun and was able to fire it at his teacher.

Diane Toscano, a lawyer for the wounded teacher, Abby Zwerner, said this week that on the day of the shooting, concerned staff at Richneck warned administrators three times that the boy had a gun and was threatening other students, but the administration didn’t call police, remove the boy from class or lock down the school.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/teaching-education-newport-news-37c98fa9da9dc3c5bd53bf480fa6ebf0

[LuckyLib]

1. When I taught in LA elementary school, the first mention of

a kid having a gun would have resulted in the school secretary making a 911 call. Next? Child is at the station and parents are on their way. What am I missing? The Uvalde syndrome? No one could make a decision?

[underpants]

2. That was a fing disaster.

I used to like close to there. I was young and without a kid so if I passed Ruchneck I wouldn’t have noticed it.

[Diamond_Dog]

3. And some folks wonder why there's a shortage of teachers.

[BigmanPigman]

4. I am fine with the VP and principal leaving

since they were the ones at the site that day. The superabundant is being used as a scapegoat and shouldn't have to leave. I am very familiar with the chain of command at public elementary schools.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1124&pid=14272