Fears Recede in Wake of Racist Threat at School

After a few tense days at Camarillo High School, worried parents stopped calling Friday. Students again filled the hallways, and they were more concerned about their plans for the weekend than about a racist note that had kept hundreds home the day before.

A week ago, a student reported finding an anonymous note in the bathroom warning that all black students would be killed June 8. The same day, administrators found a spray-painted swastika on campus.

Principal Terry Tackett took the threat and the graffiti seriously. Tackett brought three additional police officers and several extra supervisors on campus Thursday, and police monitored the school gates in the morning and the afternoon.

Counselors and administrators also spent Thursday patrolling the school, and teachers stood outside their classrooms during passing periods. A few parents also came to school with their children.

And, accompanied by law enforcement officials, Tackett led a meeting Wednesday night to assure parents that the school was taking steps to prevent any campus violence. He also sent a note home to parents, telling them about the threat and about the school’s response to it.

“This is a safe campus, but we’re never too safe,” Tackett said Friday. “We have to stay on our toes.”

But many parents still weren’t convinced. About 600 students--three times the normal number--stayed home from school Thursday.

Jacquelyn Vurdette, 17, decided not to come to class because she and her parents were worried about the threat. “I didn’t think anything was actually going to happen,” she said. “But I didn’t think the school could stop it if it did.”

Thursday went smoothly, with no reports of violence, officials said. And on Friday, attendance was better than normal, officials said. Administrators are still interviewing students to determine who wrote the note. And they will continue to be on alert the rest of the school year, they said.

Administrators have found racist graffiti four or five times during the school year, and there have been a few isolated incidents of name-calling, Assistant Principal Ron Komatsu said. But administrators, teachers and students said they aren’t aware of any significant racial tension.

“I’ve never noticed anything,” said Nick Edwards, 18, the editor of the school’s newspaper. “I don’t know where this came from. But it was completely revolting.”

There are about 2,600 students at Camarillo High School. More than 70%, or about 1,850 students, are white. There are only about two dozen African American students on campus.

The Oxnard Union High School District has traditionally been aggressive about ensuring school safety. Police officers are stationed at each of the five high schools, and students are subject to random metal-detector searches. The district also relies on dogs to check for drugs and explosives.

In many classrooms at Camarillo High, teachers spent Thursday morning talking to their students about the importance of respecting others and not making threats. Some students expressed their fears, worries and frustrations to teachers and counselors.

“It’s stupid and pointless,” Jacquelyn said. “I guess everyone has their own opinions, but I just don’t think some of them should be expressed.”