Rumours about potential violence against students at Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School (PSO) are not true, according to principal Geoff Butcher, further adding that there’s no need to be anxious nor a need for further investigation.
“There was information that came our way Friday about some potential violence that was gonna be perpetrated on students here. Undefined time. There was no specifics. It was a rumour. Somebody had heard something or thought they heard something. So they came to us with this information,” says Butcher
“They were worried and we have to look into these things whether we think they’re accurate or not. So we bring the full weight of our investigative powers to bear and we involve the police when we do these things, very rare.”
There were discussions with students, including the ones that were identified as potentially doing harm, their parents and police, according to Butcher.
“None of this was true. It was all rumour and innuendo and gossip. Friday at the end of the day we asked the police ‘what do you think?'”
They said the school was good to go, according to Butcher.
“This is not something we’re going to continue. It obviously has no merit. Over the weekend there was more of this discussion going on with other people and they started to come and ask us on Monday.”
Butcher says they told them that they had investigated and that there was nothing to it but that rumours continued.
“We said, ‘well we better talk to students and let them know.'”
Butcher said they talked to students by grade today (Dec. 4).
“We said this is what we know. This is important to us in terms of safety. We want you to understand there’s no reason to be anxious. As far as we are concerned this matter is put to bed and there’s no need for any further investigation.”
