Norwich superintendent reviews safety after middle school threat leads to arrest
NORWICH – Norwich City School District Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan provided an update on the district’s efforts to be prepared for any internal or external crisis at the board of education meeting Wednesday night, in the wake of a threat made Tuesday when a parent allegedly told a staff member they were going to “make it rain blood in the middle school.”
The parent has since been arrested and charged with aggravated harassment in the second degree, O’Sullivan said. “We did a brief investigation, we called the police, sent out an email to all staff...We thought it warranted the attention of the Norwich Police who followed up with an investigation.”
The name of the parent was not made public at the meeting. Arrest records show the only person arrested for aggravated harassment in the second degree was Regina M. Donovan, 40, of Norwich on Tuesday.
The Norwich Police Department confirmed Thursday the nature of Donovan’s charge was making a threat at the school. She was released after her arrest and is scheduled to be arraigned in Norwich City Court on April 3 at 1:30 p.m.
Board member Joe Stagliano asked what the next steps are in this process. “I know the person was arrested, but are they allowed on campus? Have they been identified so that staff knows if this person comes around to be alert? Any recommendations from law enforcement on how to handle this?”
O’Sullivan said, “None at this time.” He added that since it has been turned over to police the process will be through the legal system now, but admitted the district should be moving forward in a more proactive manner.
O’Sullivan then proceeded with his superintendent’s report, which touched on the Norwich middle and high schools holding a student assembly for a Parkland Remembrance on March 14, when students nationwide were staging walkouts. He said a student led initiative called Save Our Schools (SOS) was formed in Norwich schools as a result of the shooting in Parkland, Fla., and expressed he was happy that something good was able to come from the tragedy.
O’Sullivan said the school is potentially scheduling an active shooter drill to take place in the month of May. He said the last active shooter drill took place four years ago with around 30 law enforcement members present, and that he expects there to be more law enforcement present if they hold the drill in May.
On March 23, O’Sullivan said three students from Norwich Middle School and four students from Norwich High School will attend a school safety summit organized by Senator Fred Akshar. O’Sullivan said NHS Principal Kisten Giglio will also attend the summit, which will feature student representatives from all of the schools in Akshar’s senatorial district to discuss the school safety issue.
Another way the district is preparing for the worst is by hosting a multi-agency meeting to be held on March 27 with the New York State Police, Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, Norwich Fire Department, emergency responders, members of the City of Norwich, and Chenango Memorial Hospital. The meeting comes after O’Sullivan met with Norwich Police Department Detective Reuben Roach and Norwich Firefighter Jason Gray on March 15.
Board Vice President Jennifer Collins asked O’Sullivan if it would be advisable to have a board member in attendance at the March 27 meeting. O’Sullivan said this is one of a series of meetings and he would have to check with Norwich Police.
– Staff Writer Zachary Meseck contributed to this report.
The parent has since been arrested and charged with aggravated harassment in the second degree, O’Sullivan said. “We did a brief investigation, we called the police, sent out an email to all staff...We thought it warranted the attention of the Norwich Police who followed up with an investigation.”
The name of the parent was not made public at the meeting. Arrest records show the only person arrested for aggravated harassment in the second degree was Regina M. Donovan, 40, of Norwich on Tuesday.
The Norwich Police Department confirmed Thursday the nature of Donovan’s charge was making a threat at the school. She was released after her arrest and is scheduled to be arraigned in Norwich City Court on April 3 at 1:30 p.m.
Board member Joe Stagliano asked what the next steps are in this process. “I know the person was arrested, but are they allowed on campus? Have they been identified so that staff knows if this person comes around to be alert? Any recommendations from law enforcement on how to handle this?”
O’Sullivan said, “None at this time.” He added that since it has been turned over to police the process will be through the legal system now, but admitted the district should be moving forward in a more proactive manner.
O’Sullivan then proceeded with his superintendent’s report, which touched on the Norwich middle and high schools holding a student assembly for a Parkland Remembrance on March 14, when students nationwide were staging walkouts. He said a student led initiative called Save Our Schools (SOS) was formed in Norwich schools as a result of the shooting in Parkland, Fla., and expressed he was happy that something good was able to come from the tragedy.
O’Sullivan said the school is potentially scheduling an active shooter drill to take place in the month of May. He said the last active shooter drill took place four years ago with around 30 law enforcement members present, and that he expects there to be more law enforcement present if they hold the drill in May.
On March 23, O’Sullivan said three students from Norwich Middle School and four students from Norwich High School will attend a school safety summit organized by Senator Fred Akshar. O’Sullivan said NHS Principal Kisten Giglio will also attend the summit, which will feature student representatives from all of the schools in Akshar’s senatorial district to discuss the school safety issue.
Another way the district is preparing for the worst is by hosting a multi-agency meeting to be held on March 27 with the New York State Police, Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, Norwich Fire Department, emergency responders, members of the City of Norwich, and Chenango Memorial Hospital. The meeting comes after O’Sullivan met with Norwich Police Department Detective Reuben Roach and Norwich Firefighter Jason Gray on March 15.
Board Vice President Jennifer Collins asked O’Sullivan if it would be advisable to have a board member in attendance at the March 27 meeting. O’Sullivan said this is one of a series of meetings and he would have to check with Norwich Police.
– Staff Writer Zachary Meseck contributed to this report.
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