WINDHAM — The mood was mostly positive and confident Thursday morning as students and staff members returned to classes in Regional School Unit 14 after emailed threats shut down public schools in Windham and Raymond for three days.
Police have charged a 16-year-old Windham boy, identified by his father as Justin Woodbury, with felony terrorizing in connection emails sent to two school administrators Monday morning in which he threatened to use weapons, police said. Investigators found and seized a firearm Tuesday evening when they searched the home where he lives with his parents, police said.
Additional Images
“I’m feeling OK,” said sophomore Dominic Stevens as he entered Windham High School shortly after 7 a.m. “I’m not worried at all. I feel confident they got the only guy involved.”
Kevin Roy, a student teacher from the University of Southern Maine, said he expected students and staff members would transition easily back into their routines but acknowledged the threats were upsetting.
“I’m glad to be back and return to some sense of normalcy,” Roy said. “School is expected to be a safe place. To have someone threaten that is upsetting.”
Tayla Fortin, a senior, said she returned to classes Thursday feeling unsettled. That someone threatened to harm students “was a scary, scary thought,” she said.
Parents expressed appreciation for the way school officials and police handled the threats, sending students home Monday morning and keeping parents informed throughout the investigation.
“I’m just pleased that school officials put the students first,” said Judith MacDonald, as she dropped off her grandson Caleb MacDonald, as sophomore.
“I feel like the system handled everything well,” said Chris Delano, a parent who delivered several students to high school.
Woodbury said his son Justin had attended Windham schools, but left the district after completing middle school two years ago. He is currently enrolled as a junior at Baxter Academy for Science and Technology, a charter school in Portland.
The teenager is charged with eight counts of terrorizing, one for each of the schools affected, and is being held at the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland, police said. He’s was expected to make an initial appearance for a detention hearing in juvenile court Thursday.
Police said they do not believe anyone else was involved in the threats, and schools in Regional School Unit 14 were reopening for all 3,300 students Thursday morning.
“We will get back to normal,” Superintendent Sandy Prince said Wednesday. Police will be at the schools to reassure students and parents, and counselors will be available for several days to meet with any students who want to talk about the incident, he said.
Kelley Bouchard can be reached at 791-6328 or at:
Twitter: KelleyBouchard
Send questions/comments to the editors.
