MONROE - Who told what to whom about a pending drug sweep and lockdown at Monroe High School on Tuesday? Monroe's superintendent is withholding comment until all the facts are in.
Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown said this morning he wouldn't speculate on reports that a teacher or teachers at Monroe High School alerted students that a lockdown was coming.
Police used K-9 drug sniffing dogs to search MHS and the Monroe Alternative Charter School on Tuesday in what was supposed to be a surprise sweep. Students also were in lockdown mode during the sweep. A charter school student was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana after his vehicle was searched.
MHS Principal Mark Burandt said he told MHS staff that a lockdown drill was planned at some point, but they were not told the date or time, nor that police would be involved.
But several students and adults have said since Tuesday's search they knew in advance that the lockdown, and in some cases a drug search, was coming. Some e-mails to The Monroe Times have mentioned a specific teacher that reportedly told a class Monday there was going to be a "drug raid" the next day.
Brown said he doesn't "put any credibility" on anonymous sources. In some cases, it can be a case of teenagers talking without actual facts to back them up.
"Sometimes, they think they know what's happening," Brown said. "It's cool to say they knew it was going to happen.
"There were very few people in the loop that knew the drug search" was included in the lockdown, Brown said.
The district is concerned that information may have been leaked to students, he said, and the administrative team is looking into that issue as part of a review of how the sweep and lockdown drill went and what the district may want to do differently in the future.
Part of that discussion will include whether a future sweep will include a search of the MHS parking lot. Some people complained online at themonroetimes.com that police searched the parking lot at the charter school, but not at the high school. Police Chief Fred Kelley said Tuesday not including the parking lot was a "logistical" decision.
If a determination is made that a teacher or staff member told students something was in the works, the district will "deal with it appropriately," Brown said.
He said overall, he felt the exercise went well. And if there's a leak in communication, the district will address it, he said.
"We'll deal with it," Brown said.
Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown said this morning he wouldn't speculate on reports that a teacher or teachers at Monroe High School alerted students that a lockdown was coming.
Police used K-9 drug sniffing dogs to search MHS and the Monroe Alternative Charter School on Tuesday in what was supposed to be a surprise sweep. Students also were in lockdown mode during the sweep. A charter school student was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana after his vehicle was searched.
MHS Principal Mark Burandt said he told MHS staff that a lockdown drill was planned at some point, but they were not told the date or time, nor that police would be involved.
But several students and adults have said since Tuesday's search they knew in advance that the lockdown, and in some cases a drug search, was coming. Some e-mails to The Monroe Times have mentioned a specific teacher that reportedly told a class Monday there was going to be a "drug raid" the next day.
Brown said he doesn't "put any credibility" on anonymous sources. In some cases, it can be a case of teenagers talking without actual facts to back them up.
"Sometimes, they think they know what's happening," Brown said. "It's cool to say they knew it was going to happen.
"There were very few people in the loop that knew the drug search" was included in the lockdown, Brown said.
The district is concerned that information may have been leaked to students, he said, and the administrative team is looking into that issue as part of a review of how the sweep and lockdown drill went and what the district may want to do differently in the future.
Part of that discussion will include whether a future sweep will include a search of the MHS parking lot. Some people complained online at themonroetimes.com that police searched the parking lot at the charter school, but not at the high school. Police Chief Fred Kelley said Tuesday not including the parking lot was a "logistical" decision.
If a determination is made that a teacher or staff member told students something was in the works, the district will "deal with it appropriately," Brown said.
He said overall, he felt the exercise went well. And if there's a leak in communication, the district will address it, he said.
"We'll deal with it," Brown said.