Concerns aired over pupils’ alleged gun plot at Warren school

WARREN – The superintendent of SAD 40 admitted Tuesday night to learning three important lessons in the wake of uncovering an alleged gun plot involving pupils at the Warren Community School earlier this month.

The three lessons learned, Superintendent Pamela Carnahan told parents, grandparents and residents at a special meeting on the incident, were to involve law enforcement sooner; to communicate facts promptly; and to update the district’s crisis plan.

Before detailing what facts could be discussed legally about the incident, which involved four unidentified pupils at the kindergarten through grade six school, Carnahan remarked, “How different our world is from 20 years ago.”

Some 250 people attended the meeting called by the Warren Community School Parent-Teacher Association at the school gym.

On April 7 during a recess, Carnahan said, three adult monitors noticed that a few pupils appeared ready to run away from the school. Adults heard pupils talking about a plan to sneak to a neighborhood home, steal guns and return to school. The pupils involved in the plot were interviewed, Carnahan said, adding they had a map and a plan to return and shoot people.

No one was hurt in the incident.

The suspended pupils were identified previously as third- and fourth-graders ages 9, 10 and 11.

There was an alleged hit list, but no physical list has been found, according to authorities.

Outside Tuesday’s session, Assistant District Attorney Kendra Potz, a juvenile prosecutor, said the list pupils talked about included names of pupils, teachers and support staff.

While school officials were “trying to piece together the puzzle,” Carnahan said, some pupils at the school of 300 were disciplined. “By that time, rumors had probably already hit your home,” she said.

At some point, a parent contacted Maine State Police about the alleged plot. On Friday, April 15, the day before school vacation, school officials sent home a letter informing parents of the incident. The fact that school officials didn’t immediately involve police and the delay in sending the letter home upset some parents.

“I can’t undo what was done,” Carnahan said.

“We have a wonderful staff here,” she said. “Thank goodness they were listening to students.

“I’m sorry for any kind of stress this has added to your life,” she said. “Safety for your children is our number one concern.”

Many parents and grandparents wanted to know how administrators will address pupil counseling needs, steps to ensure safety on school grounds, improving communications, and spotting warning signs of danger at schools.

Principal Ann Kirkpatrick said there was never a conscious decision to keep the incident from police and parents. She noted that guidance counselors have been contacted and will see pupils on a case-by-case basis.

Crisis protocols will be developed for individual schools, Carnahan said, and attendance lists will be checked to find out who is absent and why to help identify youths who might be afraid to return to school.

People voiced frustration about state police and school administrators not providing more information about those involved in the alleged plot or if and when they would return to school.

State police Sgt. Gerry Madden said case information has been turned over to the District Attorney’s Office for review. If felony charges are brought, the court documents and court hearings for the juveniles would be open to the public, Potz said.

State police offered to assist the district in establishing a safe school plan and in getting information on an awareness program about guns in schools.

Susan Wilcox, a parent and former SAD 40 director, said everyone has the children’s welfare as a top priority, but when parents do not hear from staff about serious matters it creates problems with trust.

“There needs to be something tangible that comes out of this,” Wilcox said. “We don’t want to be the next Columbine.”