The parents and residents of Falmouth, are outraged and terrified. On September 11, 2025, Ian Fotheringham, an 18-year-old, was arrested and initially held without bail, accused of preparing to use a firearm at a Falmouth school.

Evidence included photos of the school on his phone and a 3D printer capable of producing a firearm, found during a search on September 11, 2025, per the Cape & Islands DA press release. Yet, on September 16, 2025, a Barnstable District Court judge granted him $2,500 bail with GPS monitoring, endangering children in the Falmouth school system, who now fear for their safety.

Worse, Superintendent Lori Duerr and school leadership knew of Fotheringham’s threat since August 2025, when a mental health report and no-trespass order were issued, and again in early September when he was seen stalking school woods. Parents were never notified, a breach of duty confirmed by their dismissal of parents concerns at the September 16, 2025, School Committee meeting.

Superintendent Duerr and complicit officials to face consequences for failing to notify parents or enhance security.

Fast-Track SRO’s in schools:

Bill H.753 for SROs in schools.

Children’s lives & safety are at stake. The $57.78 billion FY 2025 MA budget allocates $6.5 billion to K-12, yet diversions to $500M climate and $300M social equity programs leave schools unsecured. Falmouth’s high property taxes should prioritize safety, not be misdirected.

Sign this petition to show overwhelming support for safer schools. Your signature pressures the DA, school board, and legislators to act. Optionally, amplify your voice by contacting DA Galibois (CapeIslandsDA@mass.gov), Governor Healey (617-725-4000), or your state rep.

[UPDATE]: I’ve learned that the District Attorney cannot appeal the bail decision for Ian Fotheringham. The DA sought a $250,000 bail, but the judge set it at just $2,500, a ruling locked in by Massachusetts law, barring any appeal. For full transparency, the DA’s office acted swiftly upon discovering this threat, unlike Superintendent Duerr, who failed to respond promptly.

Sign and share this petition to Urge the Fast-Tracking of the SRO Bill, Demand Accountability from the Superintendent. 

The Superintendent is evading accountability, and the truth is clear: it wasn’t a lack of funding that left schools without an SRO, it was a deliberate choice. 

Bill H.753 mandates that superintendents request SROs from local police, ensuring impartial, proactive safety for children in schools without excuses.