April Fool’s Day was taken to an extreme level this year, keeping the staff at the Liberty County School System and local law enforcement agencies busy on April 1.

After reports on social media swirled about someone brining a gun to Liberty County High School, Superintendent Dr. Franklin Perry issued a statement saying the rumor was false.

The statement read: “Safety in our schools is our number one priority outside of educating our students. In an effort to reinforce the importance of a safe and drug- free climate, Liberty County High School participated in a lockdown sweep today.”

Perry said the sweep was conducted in the school building, parking lot, lockers, locker rooms and classrooms.

“The search is complete, no weapons were found, and we have returned to our regular schedule,” Perry said.

“Thank you in advance for your support of these efforts, as this serves as just one more step to ensure the safety of all of our scholars.”

However, angry parents complained on social media that there was a lack of transparency and communication regarding the sweep and that in fact someone was caught with a gun at school.

That same afternoon, there was an incident in which a juvenile was detained by police for allegedly photographing himself holding what appears to be a handgun. The photo was allegedly taken inside one of the bathrooms at Bradwell Institute. As the photo of the unnamed young man went viral on social media, parents were expressing their outrage about the lack of notification and transparency from the LCSS Central Office about the matter.

According to Hinesville Police Officer Capt. Terranova Smith and the incident report obtained by the Courier, the Bradwell Institute School Resource Officer was notified by text from a student, who wished to remain anonymous, that there was a gun on campus. The officer and two assistant principals walked to the classroom of the student accused of possessing the gun. The juvenile was asked to step out into the hallway, where he was placed in handcuffs as he attempted to resist the officer.

The incident report stated that the boy had posted more than one photo to his Instagram page. In one photo, he appeared to be holding the gun and showing a gang sign. The photos also confirmed that they were taken inside one of the school’s bathrooms.

The report stated the boy was patted down, but no weapon was found on his person. The juvenile was taken to the principal’s office and questioned about the gun and whether it was real or a toy.

According to the police report, the boy said the gun was a toy. However, further into the investigation, the gun owner was located and confirmed that the gun once belonged to his wife, who recently passed away.

The gun owner said he recently noticed the gun had gone missing from its box. The report stated that a teacher informed the officer that other students may have been in the bathroom with the juvenile. According to the report, the gun has yet to be found.

The unnamed 15-yearold was charged with carrying weapons within a school safety zone, disrupting public school, and obstruction of a law enforcement officer. He is being detained at the Claxton Youth Detention Center.

Bradwell Institute Principal Roland Van Horn issued this statement: “In the Liberty County School System, the safety of our staff and students is a top priority. On Friday afternoon, just before the close of the school day, a Bradwell Institute student alerted school authorities about a picture posted on social media of a Bradwell student holding a gun. The student looked as if he may have been in a restroom inside Bradwell. The student was immediately identified and searched and the school was searched, and no weapons were found. Law enforcement was involved, and the student is being dealt with according to disciplinary procedures.”

Online, parents were expressing their concerns about kids being bullied in school and educators being restricted about informing the community regarding incidents in their classrooms and hallways. Parents have shared links showing that students at one local middle school have created Instagram pages featuring videos of fights between kids, some from inside the school, as well as Instagram pages where some kids and faculty are portrayed in a negative manner.

“It’s sad that we are constantly having the same issues with no resolve,” said Grace Oliveira. “Parents have visited Dr. Perry numerous times and sometimes the school staff about the bullying and fighting.”

Oliveira recently formed an organization called Power of the People Action Committee Corporation to address various social and civil issues not being addressed by the proper authorities and media agencies.

She plans to follow this issue closely and get the right responses from the Board of Education.

“Teachers are scared,” she said. “Students are scared. The problem is the superintendent not solving the issue. There should be programs implemented in the school house, and that stretch outside of the school, to talk to students about if they are being bullied. If a student isn’t coming to tell that they are getting bullied, then there is a disconnect with the trust factor between them and the staff.

“There should be an investigation team that follows the right protocols when things like this happen. A whole Instagram account for fights and bullying is unacceptable, and immediately there should have been someone looking into who created this page and why they feel these are things to glorify.”

Oliveira said the board should allow teachers to speak out without the risk of getting fired.

She is not the first person to say educators are afraid to speak freely for fear of retribution. Educator advocate Kisya Burnett frequently addresses the board on this topic at BOE meetings.

Oliveira said BOE members who are not addressing these issues should be removed.

“Our children’s safety is at risk every day, and nothing is being done. And if something is being done, the people need to know so they can have that security that their child will not be next,” she said. “Not talking about it is not going to solve the issue. It has to be talked about. There’s no other way to find a solution.

“We have to get back to when the entire community was there to help raise our children. It doesn’t just stop at home or at school. We have to be on one accord.”