GALION – A threat of violence against the Galion Intermediate School on Feb. 15 was determined to be vandalism by a student, according to the Galion Police and Galion Fire Departments.
An Intermediate School student had attempted to carve a threat in the stall wall in the boys’ bathroom of the third-grade hallway, authorities said. District administrators quickly identified the third-grade male student, and the boy subsequently admitted to the act of vandalism.
“District administrators, along with safety personnel from the Galion Police and Galion Fire Departments quickly arrived on scene and assessed the situation to determine that there was no threat to the safety of the students and staff of the Galion Intermediate School,” said Jim Grubbs, Galion Superintendent. “Thanks to the quick work of the Intermediate School’s administrators and the district’s Technology Department, we were able to identify the student in mere minutes and obtain the student’s confession.”
Staff check the restroom walls frequently throughout the day, which made it easier to determine who had been in and out of the restroom during the specific timeframe the vandalism took place.
“We did not immediately report this incident to parents or the community because we were able to quickly assess the situation, identify the student, and obtain a confession,” said Grubbs. “We didn’t want to induce any more panic than was already present from the incident that took place earlier at the Middle School.
“I take the safety of EVERY single Galion student seriously. I would never do anything to compromise the trust that our families place in me and the entire Galion City School District staff to provide their children with the best education in the safest and most secure environment possible.”
