Parent tells Burke County Schools board she learned of alleged armed threat only after Googling school

Amanda, a Drexel Elementary parent, told the Burke County Schools board on April 8 that she learned about an alleged armed threat to the school only after she Googled the school name 10 days after the arrest.

"I only found out 10 days later by Googling our school's name," Amanda said during the board's public comment period, adding that she does not use social media or cable news and should not be penalized for that. "I hope we never face this again, but we need clear, reliable communication every step of the way if we do."

The board read the district's public-comment rules before Amanda spoke, noting that state and federal law and board policy set limits on topics that may be addressed during public comment and that speakers have three minutes. The matter Amanda raised — a safety threat and parent notification — falls within the board's jurisdiction for public concern but, as the board reminded the audience, personnel grievances and ongoing investigations are handled through separate procedures.

Amanda said the county had told parents the next day after the suspect's arrest that they had been notified, but she disputed that timeline for herself. She told board members she only discovered the event later and that she would have preferred being told immediately so she could have warned her child. She also said she had recently learned the school has a resource officer and asked how the district ensures doors automatically latch for pre-K and elementary students.

She emphasized the scale of care the district must provide, saying the county has about "11,770" students and that principals, teachers and coaches shoulder responsibility for their safety. Amanda offered to discuss specific solutions with the board after the meeting.

No formal board action was taken during public comment on April 8. The board moved on to its consent and action agenda items after Amanda finished.