31 January 2023

Dr. Brown, MMes. Hankins-Wolfe, Young, Byrd, and Mr. Parks

Of the Boone County Board of Education

8330 US Hwy 42

Florence, KY 41042

Dear Board Members,

For the purpose of this article…

“Removed Student” shall refer to the student who was removed from Conner Middle School during the 2021-2022 school year for making written threats against other students (Ref. Fox19.com.  3 Dec 2021, https://www.fox19.com/2021/12/04/threats-made-by-student-boone-county-middle-school-sheriffs-office-says/

“Concerned Parties” shall encompass all names and signatures subsequently and freely affixed to this article.

“CHS Students” shall define the current student body population at Conner High school in its entirety.

“CHS Faculty and Staff” shall refer to all current teachers, staff, or administrators duly employed at Conner High School.

“Specifically threatened students” shall refer to the students directly threatened in the written threats by the “Removed Student”.

Consider this a formal appeal of the decision to allow the Removed Student to resume their education at Conner High School as a student.

WHEREAS, The Boone County Schools District Code of Conduct declares every student has the right to “A learning environment that is safe.”

WHEREAS, The Boone County Student Handbook states: “Parents/guardians of students in the Boone County Schools have the right to: expect that unacceptable behavior will be dealt with quickly and effectively,”

WHEREAS, The Boone County Student Handbook states: “Parents/guardians of students in the Boone County Schools have the right to: expect a safe, respectful, equitable, accessible, and healthy environment free from harassment and physical harm”

WHEREAS, Superintendent Turner affirmed “our most important function in Boone County Schools is to provide the safest learning environment possible for all of our students and faculty members” in a letter dated 4 August, 2022,

WHEREAS, Superintendent Turner declared that terroristic “threats to our students and school staff are totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated” in a letter dated 4 August, 2022,

WHEREAS, The Boone County Student Handbook states: “Parents/guardians of students in the Boone County Schools have the right to: address questions or grievances to the proper school authority and expect a reply”

WHEREAS, In a comprehensive school shooting study, the Secret Service and Department of Education found that 93% of school shooters planned the attack in advance.  When people see the signs and get help, we can end school shootings.  (Ref. sandyhookpromise.org. https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/blog/gun-violence/16-facts-about-gun-violence-and-school-shootings/

WHEREAS, Almost all mass school shooters shared  threatening or concerning messages or images. More than 75% raised concern from others prior to the attacks. Bystanders saw warning signs in most documented active shooter cases. (Ref. sandyhookpromise.org. https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/blog/gun-violence/16-facts-about-gun-violence-and-school-shootings/

WHEREAS, The Removed Student had clearly planned an attack in advance and shared threatening or concerning messages or images, indicating a clear and definitive threat,

WHEREAS, Clearly the Removed Student was extremely unhappy in an environment which originally triggered the threats, and has now been placed in a materially similar environment,

WHEREAS, There are several other schools in the area available for the Removed Student to attend,

WHEREAS, 704 KAR 19:002 ‘Alternative Education Programs’, in section (8)(a)  authorizes the “placement of a student in an alternative education program by local school district personnel, 1. To ensure the safety of the individual student, the student body, or staff”,

WHEREAS, Considering the foregoing clauses, forcing CHS Students and CHS Faculty and Staff, and especially the Specifically threatened students to attend school with the Removed Student does NOT AT ALL constitute a safe environment,

WHEREAS, The rights, particularly the safety, of all CHS Students and CHS Faculty and Staff must be protected by the Board of Education,

We the undersigned Concerned Parties hereby demand the removal of the Removed Student from Conner High School immediately, through special session as required or via other means at the discretion of the board.

Please direct your reply to: jcaplinger@gmail.com