At 9:06 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 18, the intruder alert system was activated accidentally by a student. Two weeks later, the administration has established a system with increased efficiency and the ability to more swiftly identify the root source of the alarm.

“We now have the ability to immediately identify the phone from which an intruder alert number is dialed,” Principal Dr. Greg Mathison said. “During this past alarm, Rockwood headquarters had to be called in order to locate the phone which partly accounted for the delayed termination of the automatic recording.”

Detailed watch of security cameras also were used to both monitor the hallways for signs of disturbances as a consequence of the possible intruder and locate the student responsible.

“If a student intentionally sets off the alarm they are looking at 10 days out of school suspension with a recommendation for further punishment by the school board and the superintendent, which is the most severe punishment an individual high school can give,” Dr. Mathison said.

Upon reaching the school board, Dr. Mathison said180 days of out of school suspension would not be out of the question.

If the alarm is activated with malicious intent, the student may face police disciplinary charges as well.

“In a case like that, a police report would be submitted for review to the prosecutor who would issue charges,” Officer Joe Early, school resource officer, said. “Depending on the situation, charges could range from a peaceful disturbance to an act of terrorism which would be punished differently depending upon whether the culprit was a juvenile or a legal adult.”

A juvenile charged with peaceful disturbance would be disciplined by the juvenile court and face a parental fine, incarceration, probation or time in a juvenile detention center. Similarly, a legal adult could potentially serve a year in jail.

“We do have reason to believe that this most recent incident was an accident,” Dr. Mathison said. “We explored the incident thoroughly before deciding upon punishment which was in accordance with Rockwood policy.”

The intruder alert system was activated in the Nurse’s Office as the student responsible, who wished to remain anonymous, attempted to dial home after feeling sick.

“I saw the sticker on the phone with the number and thought it was the dial out number,” the student said. “I didn’t know that it was the number to dial if there was an intruder.”

The student did not immediately report triggering the alarm.

“When I dialed the number there was no dial tone and I realized something was wrong,” the student said. “I hung up but the alarm went on right away. I wanted to tell the nurse but I was freaking out and was too scared, so I didn’t confess.”

The student received four days of in school suspension beginning the Tuesday after the three day weekend following the incident.

“I didn’t try to deny it or anything and I went to ISS,” the student said. “I learned that I should confess immediately when I am responsible for something wrong.”

The administration met with the student and discussed the details of the alarm to gather an understanding of how exactly the episode occurred, the student said.

“In any situation we would look at the facts and determined if there were other actions by a student that neglected to help remedy the situation,” Dr. Mathison said. “Non-action can be disciplined.”

Jessie Berger, sophomore, was in Honors Chemistry when the alarm commenced and said she was worried and scared.

“It was definitely not funny and to think that someone may have put me through this for humor makes me mad,” Berger said. “It makes our school look like a joke.”

Regardless, Dr. Mathison said he trusts the student body that a similar situation will not arise again and commends the school on the response of all involved.

“Students and staff handled it very well. It was a scary time for everybody, but the appropriate measures were taken to guarantee the absolute safety of all inside the building,” Dr. Mathison said.