For the second time in as many weeks, a letter was sent to parents of Grissom Middle School after a potential threat to students was discovered.

The principal issued the letter on Tuesday, Oct. 12, after discovering a group of students were on Google Chat talking about a list of students they didn’t like and methods they wanted to use to harm or kill the students.

The district’s safety director and the school resource officer were notified and began an investigation, according to the principal’s letter which described the incident as a substantive threat.

The students have also been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

A letter was issued to parents, last week, after a student was found with a box cutter. There were no threats made to any other individuals in that instance, according to the principal’s letter.

Below is the letter sent to parents:

DEAR GRISSOM PARENT/GUARDIAN,

This letter is to inform you that today (Tuesday, Oct. 12th) during the school day a group of students were discovered discussing via Google Chat a list of students they didn’t like and the methods they wanted to use to harm/kill the students.

P-H-M Safety Director Mike Seger was notified immediately and worked with myself and other members of the Grissom administrative staff on the investigation. It was determined that this was a substantive threat.

Our School Resource Officer was also contacted. This matter is currently under investigation and further determination as to the credibility will be determined with police involvement for the safety of all. All parents/guardians of students involved have been contacted by the school administration. The students have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

The safety of your child is a top priority for Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation. We take these matters very seriously, responding immediately with the appropriate action. Threats that jeopardize the safety of others and disrupt the school’s safe and peaceful learning environment are a violation of the Code of Conduct in the P-H-M Middle School Student Handbook and any students will be disciplined accordingly.

Please take the opportunity to talk with your child about school safety and remind them to report any unsafe behavior or situation to an adult … see something, say something!

P-H-M utilizes the Safe School Helpline® as a confidential way to report student concerns about look-alike or real weapons, bullying or anything else that threatens the safety of our schools. It is Available 24/7/365 via the app, phone, text or online:

Download the Safe School Helpline® app
Click to get it from the App Store or Click to get it from Google Play
Call: 1-800-418-6423 ext 359
Text: TIPS to 614-426-0240
Online: SafeSchoolHelpline.com

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at jmilfort@phm.k12.in.us.

Respectfully yours,

Jean Milfort, Principal