Latraca Moore statement to Piggott School Board

The statement is here to provide an avenue for these parents to have their feelings aired, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Piggott Times.

First off, I would like to thank the board and Mr. Winberry for allowing the taxpayers to speak with you about an issue that is of great concern to all of us. As you well know, that issue is the events surrounding the recent bomb threat and evacuation of the Piggott School System.

I think I speak for everyone here when I say the most disturbing portion of the entire situation was having to read the article in the paper and find out that there was some confusion as to when the threat was discovered and reported and "apparently the message was found some days before and brought to the attention of the principal and assistant principal," and we know that it wasn't acted upon until 30 minutes prior to the fact because the principal or assistant principal ASSUMED it had been taken care of. I also am very disturbed to think that faculty employed by our school system would feel that it was ok to simply write the threat on paper and then wash it off the wall. In other words, just blow it off like it's something they deal with all the time and nobody has blown the school up yet.

Where was the break in communication? Why did everybody assume the other person had taken care of the situation? Why wasn't there follow up and why was the superintendent not informed until after the fact(?) The first lesson you learn in life is to cover yourself and nobody did. Everybody pointed a finger at the other guy and said "well I thought you took care of it" or ASSUMED it was handled because a cop car was at the school. And why is it ok not to answer you phone when you know darn good and well that's why you're getting a call (numerous calls is the rumor). You don't let parents get away with that. From what I understand you can print a report letting us know that you attempted to contact us several times but since we don't speak into the phone we don't get the message. At what point does a faculty member decide how to handle a situation like this? Do they merely assume that nobody would ever blow up our school or "we get threats like this at least once a month and nobody has followed through with it." And even more importantly, who feels they have the authority to simply push this type of note around on their desk and simply ignore it until the maintenance man brings it up again and wants to know "what are we going to do?" Thank God for that maintenance man, because had it been a real bomb threat and he hadn't brought it up again we would be discussing a completely different issue, wouldn't we.

This is not simply a mistake. This is a very poor lapse in judgment and blatant disregard for the mind set and certain capability of people in the world today. We, as parents, have to know that when we drop our kids off and leave them in your hands that they will be cared for and protected until they are returned to us at the end of the day. If the faculty of the Piggott School systems feels that this type of judgment is acceptable they I don't believe anyone will leave here tonight feeling that our kids are protected and watched over as they should be.

The community as a whole has to be reassured that, going forward, this situation will not happen again. We need to know that all threats will be handled according to the procedure. And the faculty must know that if you do not handle things according to procedure there will be consequences for your actions. I work in the health care field. Let's say someone came to me and told me the patient in room 101 was showing symptoms of shock and I said "OK, write those symptoms down and bring them to me," then I just blow it off, well my career would be over. Not only my career, but my license to practice would be revoked and I would probably lose everything that I had in a wrongful death suit. I guess my point is, regardless of your job, if you are in a position to take care of things then you better take care of them.

I want all of you board members to stop and think, what if your child had an eye put out by a homemade bomb that went off in a locker while they were walking down the hall, or even got hit by a car being driven by a hysterical parent trying to get to the football field because they got a call saying the school was being evacuated and were freaking out about it. And then, how would you feel if you found out after the fact that all of this could have been avoided if someone had just done their job and taken care of business like they were supposed to. Would you be satisfied with "well it was a poor judgment call and we won't let it happen again." Something tells me no!

It seems that whenever a concern or complaint regarding a member of the faculty is brought to the attention of the board, all we hear is what you CAN'T DO! It's always "well, you can't fire a teacher" or "teachers are protected better than union workers," or you can't take away their due process. But you know, I don't care where you work, I don't know of any professional career governed by a board where you can't lose your job or not have your contract renewed for not DOING THAT JOB. Our board and superintendent need to start focusing on what can be done instead of what can't.

I support this board and administration. I know all of you, went to school with you. I know my child's best interest is first as well as your own children. So don't make me doubt your decision making.