Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - Calallen cancels rally after hearing of threat

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Saturday, October 14, 2000

Calallen cancels rally after hearing of threat
Superintendent suspends two students; additional threats have been reported
By Chris Neely
Caller-Times
Threats of violence at Calallen High School caused some parents to keep their children home and administrators to beef up security and cancel a pep rally Friday, administrators said.
   Calallen Independent School District Superintendent James Warlick said two students whom he refused to identify were suspended, one Monday and one Thursday, after making threats against athletes and cheerleaders. Warlick said the Corpus Christi Police Department also told him about an off-campus incident Thursday night during which more threats were made.
   Police officers were at the campus Friday questioning students about the threats.
   "We take all threats seriously and there will be no tolerance for them," Warlick said.
   Attendance was down about 5 percent Friday, Warlick said, because concerned parents decided to keep their children home.
   Warlick attributes much of the tension to grief over the death Tuesday of Calallen sophomore Tony Marshall.
   "I think most of the problems stem from lack of understanding of that everyone mourns differently," Warlick said. "Sometimes things are misconstrued and it creates problems for kids because they don't understand."
   Warlick said school administrators also instituted a ban on camouflage clothing Thursday, but that it is not related to the threats.
   "You don't need any group to wear anything that sets them apart from the typical student," Warlick said. "And if the same group of kids is wearing (camouflage clothing) every day or pink every day, that sets them apart and we're just not going to put up with that.
   "My understanding is that we suspended all of the students that made threats," Warlick said.
   The two students received three-day suspensions, Warlick said. After that, administrators will decide whether to place the students in an alternative education program.
   Warlick said he was confident the situation would be calmer on Monday.



Staff writer Chris Neely can be reached at 886-3794 or by e-mail at neelyc@caller.com

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