Parent urges transparency after reported school gun threat; superintendent said to have responded to some families

At the start of the meeting, parent Angela Shapiro told the board she was "here as a parent and a member of this community who believes deeply in both compassion and accountability" and said a sixth‑grade student at Cornwall Central Middle School made a threat of mass violence last week.

Shapiro described the statement as a threat — "It is not hypothetical ... It was a threat" — and said the district’s prior practice had been a mandatory five‑day suspension for similar incidents. She told the board that the student was back in class that day and said families were left asking whether the student has an IEP and why the district’s stated policy “around threats” had not been followed. Shapiro asked for transparency about the safety decisions made and said she had received a phone call from "Missus Palumbo," and that Superintendent Argenio had "graciously responded promptly."

Board members did not engage in cross‑dialogue during the public comment period; the president said such comments would be taken and addressed at a later meeting. No disciplinary details or personnel findings were announced in open session. The board recommended that concerns involving individual students and personnel be directed to the superintendent during business hours, and indicated the board would circle back on public questions at a subsequent meeting.

The board did not vote on any discipline or policy changes during the session. The transcript shows the issue raised as public comment and requests for greater transparency; any formal personnel or disciplinary action would be handled through the district’s administrative processes or in executive session as appropriate.