Teacher Abby Zwerner was shot by a 6-year-old student at Richneck Elementary, and her last memory was believing she was dying, highlighting a tragic incident of school violence.
A kindergarten teacher at Pasadena Fundamental Elementary School in St. Petersburg, Florida, died after testing positive for legionella, the bacteria causing Legionnaires' disease. In response, seven classrooms were vacated, and air quality tests are being conducted as a precaution. The school is working with health officials to ensure safety, and repairs are underway on the air conditioning system. The teacher, Katherine Pennington, was a beloved educator with a 36-year career.
Authorities in Charles County are investigating an incident at C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School after a viral Instagram post claimed a second-grader was "hung" by a fourth-grader in a bathroom. The school's principal clarified that the students were "horseplaying" when a jacket got caught on a stall door hook, and one student sought help.
A case of Shigellosis, a contagious bacterial infection causing diarrhea, fever, and stomach pain, has been confirmed at La Escuela Fratney Elementary School in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Public Schools district is working with the Milwaukee Public Health Department to manage the situation, emphasizing hand washing and deep cleaning to prevent further spread. Parents and staff have been informed, and guidelines have been provided to ensure safety and health precautions are followed.
A case of shigellosis, a bacterial infection, has been reported at La Escuela Fratney Elementary School in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Public Schools and the City of Milwaukee Health Department are collaborating to manage the situation, ensuring students and staff follow hygiene protocols to prevent further spread. Families have been informed, and the school is implementing enhanced cleaning measures. Shigellosis is contagious and can spread through contaminated food, water, or contact with fecal material, with symptoms including diarrhea, fever, and stomach pain.
A student at Windermere Elementary School in the Pflugerville Independent School District has been diagnosed with measles, prompting the district to notify families and monitor student absences. Measles is a highly contagious viral infection characterized by symptoms such as a rash, fever, and cough. The district emphasizes the importance of vaccination, noting that vaccinated children are at lower risk. Infected children should stay home, rest, and hydrate, and can return to school 7-10 days after symptoms subside.
A fourth-grade student at Sugar Mill Elementary School in Port Orange, Florida, was fatally struck by a car while in a crosswalk near the school's entrance. The incident occurred as the vehicle was exiting after dropping off another student. Despite immediate life-saving efforts, the girl was pronounced dead at a hospital. The school is providing grief counselors and considering additional safety measures. The driver remained on the scene and cooperated with the investigation.
An Indianapolis elementary school teacher is being sued for allegedly organizing "fight club-style" brawls between students, including a 7-year-old special needs student, and recording the disturbing incidents. The teacher, Julious Johnican, is accused of condoning and instigating the fights, which were captured on video and revealed during a parent-teacher conference. The lawsuit also alleges that school administrators ignored the mother's concerns for months and that the teacher allowed other students to attack her son. The Indianapolis Public Schools district has stated that they do not tolerate such behavior and took immediate action when they learned of the teacher's conduct.
A special grand jury report revealed that a 6-year-old student who shot his first-grade teacher at a Virginia elementary school had exhibited violent behavior and should not have been enrolled. The report detailed instances of physical aggression and profanity, including an incident where the child choked his kindergarten teacher. Despite this, the student was not given an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or considered for alternative school placement. The report also highlighted security issues at the school, including the lack of a consistent school resource officer and faulty front door system. The report criticized the school's response to warnings about the child's behavior, including multiple reports of a potential firearm in his possession on the day of the shooting.
A special grand jury report revealed a series of lapses by the assistant principal at Richneck Elementary School in Virginia, leading up to the shooting of a first-grade teacher by a 6-year-old student. Despite being warned that the student was in a "violent mood" and carrying a firearm, the assistant principal declined a counselor's request to search the student. The student later shot the teacher with a 9-millimeter handgun, but she survived.
Former assistant principal at a Virginia elementary school has been charged with eight felony counts, including child abuse and disregard for life, after a 6-year-old student brought a gun to school and shot a teacher. The teacher survived the shooting, and the former assistant principal, Ebony Parker, resigned about three weeks after the incident. The teacher's attorneys claim that the school district failed to prevent the shooting and that concerned teachers and employees had alerted administrators multiple times on the day of the shooting about the student's possession of a gun and threats.
The Southern Nevada Health District is conducting a tuberculosis investigation at Arturo Cambeiro Elementary in Las Vegas after someone tested positive, with close contacts being identified and people at the school being notified of possible exposure. This follows a previous investigation in December involving a person with active TB disease at multiple school campuses.
A student at Francis Asbury Elementary School in Hampton, Virginia, has died from streptococcal group A meningitis, prompting school officials to notify parents and provide counseling support. The school has undergone thorough cleaning with hospital-grade disinfectant to prevent the spread of the bacteria. Symptoms of meningitis include high fever, severe headaches, neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and rash, and immediate medical attention is advised for anyone experiencing these symptoms.
An elementary school in Alabama has been shut down for the rest of the week after 773 of its 974 students were absent due to a suspected outbreak of norovirus, a highly contagious gastrointestinal illness. The outbreak has also affected four other area schools, with a total of 1,231 students absent. Health officials are investigating the cause and conducting deep cleaning of the affected schools. Norovirus activity is high across the country, and the CDC notes that outbreaks are commonly linked to schools and childcare centers.
An elementary school in Alabama has closed after nearly 800 students and half of its staff fell ill with a suspected norovirus outbreak, prompting a deep clean of the premises. The highly contagious virus causes symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, and has also affected other schools in the region. State health officials are investigating the outbreak, and testing is underway to confirm the cause.