Students, staff share mixed reactions to school cancelation
October 6, 2016
Wenatchee High School staff and students shared mixed emotions over the cancellation of school and Homecoming activities on Friday, Oct. 7.
The decision was made by the Wenatchee Police, Wenatchee School District Superintendent Brian Flones, and WHS Principal Eric Anderson.
“Everyone has been victimized by this, and it’s brought stress and anxiety to students and adults,” Anderson said. “I hope we can learn and grow from this and continue to offer each other support. Whoever did this from the beginning was crying out for help.”
Of the 22 staff and students surveyed, five people supported the decision to cancel school and other activities. Fourteen opposed the decision, and three shared mixed feelings.
WHS teachers had varied responses to the situation. World history teacher Stephen Roche had his doubts as to the severity of the threat, but commended the school’s professional and thorough response.
“I’m disappointed. I’m disappointed that the situation exists, I’m disappointed that it’s caused so much fear in our community, and I’m disappointed that whoever is perpetrating this is, in effect, getting what they want. In a way, they’re winning,” Roche said. “I personally tend to believe that there won’t be anything that happens, so in theory, I think we’ll be just as safe to be here as to not be here, and I think that the school has done an awesome job with responding to this. They added security, and they’ve dealt with it very appropriately and aggressively, but I’m not sure if canceling school will make us any more safe than if we would have been here.”
Other teachers felt as though that holding school wasn’t worth the risk.
“I think it’s sad, and I’m very bummed about the loss of innocence for the students at the high school,” added English teacher Mary Symonds. “I mean, the world is pretty icky, and I would hope that the high school would be a place where people could feel safe and I think that that is broken now. Will students be safer with school being canceled? Maybe. And these students are worth a maybe. That’s why we’re doing it.”
Some students expressed gratitude that the school took the situation seriously. Freshman Ty Waterman appreciated the good that came out of a bad situation.
“It is a good chance for the athletes that play on Thursday to rest and recover, also I feel like our principal is in a tough situation and he had to do what he had to do,” Waterman said.
Conversely, the majority of the students interviewed conveyed frustration over the schedule changes.
“Being in ASB we all worked really hard and did a lot of planning. It was kind of a shame to hear that the parade to the Apple Bowl was canceled. It’s a little disappointing that it’s my senior year and all this is happening, I wish it hadn’t happened,” senior and ASB Treasurer Zac Pope said.
All of the seniors surveyed expressed disagreement with the decision to cancel Homecoming activities. Senior Daisy Vega expressed anger towards what she believes to be an over exaggeration on the administration’s part.
“I was super devastated that they cancelled the assembly. I waited four years to actually be involved in it and do the dance. This is the seniors’ year and for it to be taken away from us over a little message…. I’m more angry than I am thankful. How I see it, WHS and Washington in general, doesn’t get a lot of recognition, so they’re taking this really seriously, and students want attention so I feel this is being made bigger for publicity rather than actually safety.”
Others argued that there was no real threat and expressed concern that the cancellation of school might inspire students to make similar threats in the future.
“It’s good to take precautions in case it’s a legitimate threat,” said sophomore Lauren Marvin. “However it will cause spikes and more threats, as people will try to get school out again.”
Austin Blakney, Rachel Cruz, Sylvia Hwang, Megan McAllister, Micaela Salgado and Bailey White contributed to this report.