Summit student who reportedly made threat expelled

CASHIERS -- Summit Charter School officials announced Wednesday morning that the student whom authorities had said threatened to bring a gun to school has been expelled. No gun was actually ever brought to school and no gun was found in a search of the student’s home, Jackson County Sheriff Chip Hall said last week.

“We have concluded our discipline proceedings in response to the allegations of a student communicating threats to school safety on our campus,” reads the Summit notice released to the Chronicle Oct. 2. “As a result of the proceedings, the student of concern has been expelled from Summit Charter School.”

Officials reportedly first learned of the threat Sept. 20 and subsequently spent several days investigating, after restricting the student from school. The male student is not being publicly identified, because he is a minor.

“We will continue to collaborate with the family of the student and Jackson County as they put in place services and support for the student,” the Oct. 2 notice continued. “This case remains an open investigation with Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and the Department of Juvenile Justice.”

The news release also described how Summit will handle similar situations in the future. “As a school, we will draw on this situation as an opportunity to assess our safety procedures and protocols, and to identify active steps we as a school community can take to ensure our campus remains a safe, supportive, and nurturing learning environment,” it said. “We will continue to be available for our families for any questions or concerns.”