WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Pre-School Students Relocated After Gun Is Brought to Alternative High School (Montville-WTNH) _ For years Montville's alternative high school and pre-school program have existed peacefully in the same building. But now a student has been arrested for carrying a gun to class. Parents are scared and the pre-schoolers are being relocated in a hurry. News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports from our Southeastern Newsroom at The Day. 3 year old Holly Evrett is at home today playing. Her mom didn't take her to school basically because she's not sure it's safe. Denise Evrett, Montville: "No, she's not going back until something's done, I'll go to the meeting but if there's no satisfaction, then she's out." 'Out' of the pre-school program at the old Palmer School, which is also used to educate troubled teenagers. Two days ago one of them was caught here with a weapon. According to police, the 15 year old stole the gun from his brother in New London and brought it here on Tuesday, reportedly bragging to friends he had it on him and that it was loaded. No one got hurt but parents were very worried. They suddenly realized that a shared building wasn't exactly an ideal set-up. Beth Rice, Montville: "Obviously there is a risk because this is a reality and it did happen, it's essential that the two populations be separated." To Greg Ratta, that separation makes sense. He's one of the high school students here and although he says they're not all 'bad kids' he does think moving the pre-schoolers is a smart idea. Greg Ratta, High School Student "I mean everybody makes mistakes, nobody's perfect, but yes, there's some kids there that like to cause trouble just for laughs." So school officials have decided to relocate the pre-school program to a spare room at the Mohegan Elementary School. To a lot of parents it's wonderful news. Dee Lamperelli, Montville: "Oh, very happy, yes, very happy, it's kind of an unusual situation to have high school kids with the three and four year olds." Parents will get official word at a meeting Friday. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Pre-School Students Relocated After Gun Is Brought to Alternative High School
(Montville-WTNH) _ For years Montville's alternative high school and pre-school program have existed peacefully in the same building. But now a student has been arrested for carrying a gun to class. Parents are scared and the pre-schoolers are being relocated in a hurry.
News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports from our Southeastern Newsroom at The Day.

3 year old Holly Evrett is at home today playing. Her mom didn't take her to school basically because she's not sure it's safe.

Denise Evrett, Montville: "No, she's not going back until something's done, I'll go to the meeting but if there's no satisfaction, then she's out."

'Out' of the pre-school program at the old Palmer School, which is also used to educate troubled teenagers. Two days ago one of them was caught here with a weapon. According to police, the 15 year old stole the gun from his brother in New London and brought it here on Tuesday, reportedly bragging to friends he had it on him and that it was loaded.

No one got hurt but parents were very worried. They suddenly realized that a shared building wasn't exactly an ideal set-up.

Beth Rice, Montville: "Obviously there is a risk because this is a reality and it did happen, it's essential that the two populations be separated."

To Greg Ratta, that separation makes sense. He's one of the high school students here and although he says they're not all 'bad kids' he does think moving the pre-schoolers is a smart idea.

Greg Ratta, High School Student "I mean everybody makes mistakes, nobody's perfect, but yes, there's some kids there that like to cause trouble just for laughs."

So school officials have decided to relocate the pre-school program to a spare room at the Mohegan Elementary School. To a lot of parents it's wonderful news.

Dee Lamperelli, Montville: "Oh, very happy, yes, very happy, it's kind of an unusual situation to have high school kids with the three and four year olds."

Parents will get official word at a meeting Friday.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.