Schools
Inland Empire Student Who Purportedly Penned Classmate 'Kill List' Expected to Return to School This Week
Concerned parents to discuss the fifth-grader's actions at meeting this evening in Riverside. Petition demands child's expulsion.
RIVERSIDE, CA – Parents of students at a Riverside elementary school are expected to voice their concerns Tuesday at a school board meeting after a fifth-grader who was suspended for showing off an alleged "kill-list" was given the go-ahead to return to school Wednesday.
Lake Matthews Elementary School Principal Pamela Williams sent a four-paragraph letter to parents Monday saying the school learned that on Jan. 12, the student showed a list of students' names on a "kill list" to other people but that it has been determined that no one at the school is in danger.
"These types of behaviors are always taken seriously by (Riverside Unified School District) and therefore we immediately began an investigation ... and notified law enforcement," Williams said in the letter. "As a result of this comprehensive process, it was determined that there was, and is, no danger to any of Lake Matthews' students."
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Williams also said in the letter that steps were taken to hold the student accountable "for the creation and sharing of the list" and that procedures are in place to monitor the situation. But parents who are not comfortable with the boy returning to classes Wednesday have petitioned Riverside school officials to expel the student, reported The Press Enterprise, which also secured a copy of Williams' letter.
"It's almost like a slap on the hand," Mirella Madrigal, whose son found his name on a second, similar list, told the Press-Enterprise. "I don't think it's enough to demonstrate the severity of the case. How do you get a two-day suspension for writing out two kill lists? It just doesn't make sense to me."
Find out what's happening in Lake Elsinore-Wildomarfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
On Friday, a parent sent a petition to Superintendent David Hansen with the signatures of 86 people who demanded the student's expulsion, the newspaper reported. They said they would not allow their children to attend school until the student responsible for the lists has been removed from the school premises permanently.
Tuesday's meeting is slated for 6 p.m. at the Board Room of the Riverside Adult School at 6735 Magnolia Ave.
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