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School board takes disciplinary action against bombing suspects

By Lynn Hotaling and Carey Phillips
Local school officials met in closed session last Friday (Jan. 14) to decide the educational fate of three of six Smoky Mountain High School students - five seniors and a sophomore - charged in connection with pipe bomb detonations last month.

School board members released the following statement following Friday's closed session meeting.

"The Jackson County Board of Education met in closed session Jan. 14 and took final disciplinary action with respect to three students. School administration took final disciplinary action on the remaining student. The actions taken remain confidential under the law and consistent with state law and board policy." Board members took disciplinary action against two seniors Dec. 22.

Though he declined comment on any particulars with regard to Friday's board action, Superintendent Frank Burrell said Monday "I feel as good as I could about this. We tried to deal with students so as not to destroy them and still maintain some integrity with safe schools." SMHS Principal Ken Henke confirmed Monday that the student school administrators dealt with is the 15-year-old sophomore, whose name has not been released due to his minor status. Henke said the sophomore would be allowed to return to SMHS this school year "after his punishment."

"I'm glad it's been taken care of and we can get back to working with students in our school programs," the principal said.

Prior to Friday's meeting, Superintendent Burrell would neither confirm nor deny whether it would involve any SMHS students charged in connection with pipe bomb detonations Dec. 3 and 10 at the new Scotts Creek school construction site on Parris Branch Road near Sylva.

It was announced in advance of the board's Dec. 22 meeting that members would discuss their legal obligations with regard to the SMHS students after felony charges of possession of weapons on school property were added to the initial charges of felony possession of weapons of mass destruction and damage to personal property.

After a late-night closed session Dec. 22, board members issued a statement that indicated "final disciplinary action" had been taken against two students. Five 17-year-old SMHS seniors - P.T. Parker, Josh Haddock, Matt Breedlove, Travis Shepard and Jennifer Parker - are charged as adults, as is Andrew MacRae, a 17-year-old Southwestern Community College student.

Criminal charges against the six charged as adults are expected to be considered by the Grand Jury later this month for possible indictments. The minor's case will be handled through the juvenile justice system.

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