COLUMBIA, Ill. — The school board in Columbia voted to expel a student for two years for threatening a shooting at Columbia High School.
The board voted when they returned from closed session Monday night after listening to parents’ concerns. Parents say the school district didn’t tell them about the threat until five days after it happened.
"Trust happens when transparency happens, and when things are concealed, it doesn't feel very trustworthy,” Rhonda Ries said.
Ries says some kids in the school are creating their own escape plans because they don’t believe the school will protect them.
"Our son decided to rotate tables at lunch to pick a new spot to keep moving because he doesn't feel comfortable in the same spot. That's ridiculous,” Nathan Vineyard said.
Vineyard says he son was the first name on a “hit list” the student mentioned.
Parents say they plan to take their concerns to the police department and the state’s attorney to demand charges be filed in the case.
