School Board: "Action" Taken Against Ki-Be High Principal
BENTON CITY -- The accusations were shocking. Ki Be High's principal held up a pocketknife and threatened to cut off a student's Rosary.
Witnesses say he stopped the student because rosaries have become a sign of gang affiliation.
At a packed public meeting, parents like Jose Rivera tell KEPR they think Principal Wayne Barrett went way too far.
"They should start by working with the kids and see of there's a need for being hands on," Rivera says.
Rivera was one of more than 100 parents who showed up to a meeting about the pocketknife incident. School board officials do not deny that the pocketknife case happened, but in their words Principal Barrett faced "appropriate action." That was about all they were willing to say.
"Can you elaborate what appropriate action is?" KEPR asks.
"No," says School Board President Dan Raap. "That becomes a personnel matter and by law it's closed."
The school board's president tells Action News Principal Barrett will not be facing any criminal charges. He tells KEPR the board is now looking at possibly changing district rules to ban faculty members from carrying weapons like a knife.
But at the school board meeting, parents like Rivera still wanted to know why weren't told about the incident in the first place.
"I go the info from another parent... Not through the school. They haven't sent anything to the homes."
The school board's answer? "Case closed." No charges filed against Principal Barrett means they're now hoping to be moving on to other issues.
Witnesses say he stopped the student because rosaries have become a sign of gang affiliation.
At a packed public meeting, parents like Jose Rivera tell KEPR they think Principal Wayne Barrett went way too far.
"They should start by working with the kids and see of there's a need for being hands on," Rivera says.
Rivera was one of more than 100 parents who showed up to a meeting about the pocketknife incident. School board officials do not deny that the pocketknife case happened, but in their words Principal Barrett faced "appropriate action." That was about all they were willing to say.
"Can you elaborate what appropriate action is?" KEPR asks.
"No," says School Board President Dan Raap. "That becomes a personnel matter and by law it's closed."
The school board's president tells Action News Principal Barrett will not be facing any criminal charges. He tells KEPR the board is now looking at possibly changing district rules to ban faculty members from carrying weapons like a knife.
But at the school board meeting, parents like Rivera still wanted to know why weren't told about the incident in the first place.
"I go the info from another parent... Not through the school. They haven't sent anything to the homes."
The school board's answer? "Case closed." No charges filed against Principal Barrett means they're now hoping to be moving on to other issues.
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