Parents and advocates press district for answers after alleged weapon threat at Christiana High School

At the Sept. 9 Christina School District Board meeting, three public commenters described an incident they said occurred at Christiana High School in which one student allegedly “threatened him with a gun,” and parents and advocates said the district’s response and communication were inconsistent with what they observed.

Local business owner Bernetta Bright told the board she had been at Christiana High School after her nephew reported a student threatened him and that she had not been allowed to see full surveillance footage that she said showed the alleged threat. Bright said an initial email to parents claimed the school was locked down; when she arrived about 25 minutes after the incident she said she “walked straight into that school” and that doors were not secured. She said police vehicles were present but that she was able to enter the building.

Child advocate Tiffany Smith said she called the school at 12:22 p.m. and arrived at about 12:49 p.m., and that she was able to “gain access to the school out of a door that was open” and move through hallways to find the student’s mother “without anybody noticing us.” Smith said footage shown to police stopped before the student “went in the hallway with his friend” and that the student was able to move around the building “for a total of 27 plus minutes before he was apprehended by a teacher.” Smith said the district’s parent email calling the situation a quick apprehension and a lockdown was incorrect.

Parent Michelle Harmon said her ninth-grade son was moved to a different school after the incident and asked the board, “Where are the metal detectors? Where’s the funding…? Where are the clear backpacks?” She said her son felt unsafe and did not understand why he had to change schools.

All three commenters framed their remarks as public comment; no formal board action or motion addressing the incident appears in the meeting transcript. The transcript shows the district’s superintendent (Dr. Joiner) and other board members later discussing general safety and audits but does not record a specific response, investigation timeline, or disciplinary action provided in the meeting record.

The meeting record contains several specific claims of timing and access: a caller to the school at 12:22 p.m.; arrival of community members about 12:49 p.m.; police vehicles observed on site; and a commenter’s estimate that a student moved unobserved in the building for roughly 27 minutes before being stopped by staff. The transcript does not include district confirmation of those timelines, a statement from Christiana High School administrators during the meeting, nor a recorded vote or direction to staff to release footage or to open a separate policy review during the session.

Commenters requested clearer communication, better on-campus security measures and transparency about decision-making during incidents. The transcript shows these requests were made during public comment and during subsequent discussion of audits, community engagement and budget concerns, but does not record an immediate board motion to change security policy, require metal detectors, or mandate an independent review.

Parents or members of the public who want follow-up should request the district’s official incident report, any available investigative records, the specific surveillance footage referenced, or a formal response from district leadership.