On Monday, September 8, 2025, I stood before the Wessington Springs School Board during the public forum to raise a concern not as a journalist, but as a parent and community member. I read the following statement:
Good evening, members of the board.
I’m here tonight as a concerned parent and a community member.
Last week, an incident occurred at the elementary school during junior high PE where a student was wielding a hammer, resulting in injury to other students. I understand that law enforcement was contacted, but parents were never notified. I only became aware of the situation because my son mentioned it.
When I followed up with Superintendent Ormsmith, I was told simply that the district had “no comment.”
I want to be clear: I fully respect the confidentiality of the students involved. I also understand that schools cannot and should not share personal information about minors. But there is an important distinction between protecting confidentiality and leaving parents completely in the dark when a violent incident occurs on school property. My concern is this: if the object involved had been a gun instead of a hammer, would parents still have been told nothing?
When I reviewed school policy, I was unable to find any clear communication directives for violent incidents. In addition, I learned that instead of calling 911, the school called the sheriff’s office directly. I know this because I went to the sheriff’s office myself to request police logs after receiving no information from the school.
Beyond communication, I am deeply concerned about the emotional impact this incident has had on students. Not only those directly involved but also those who witnessed it or heard about it from classmates. Incidents like this can be frightening, confusing, and even traumatic for young people. My question to the district is: what counseling or support resources are being offered to help students process what happened?
I raise these concerns tonight not as a journalist but as a parent who believes strongly in the partnership between families and our schools. For that partnership to work, there must be trust. And trust requires communication.
Parents deserve to be informed when an incident involving a weapon — any weapon — occurs on campus. Not for gossip, not for speculation, but for the safety and confidence of our families.
I respectfully ask this board to review current policies and expectations regarding communication with parents in the aftermath of violent incidents. I also ask the board to consider adopting clear guidelines that balance confidentiality with the responsibility to keep families informed and to ensure counseling resources are made available when traumatic events occur.
Thank you.
Why I Spoke Up
The statement above reflects what I still don’t know. My only information comes from what my son told me, along with accounts from other parents of children who were present. The school district has yet to issue a statement. Law enforcement, bound by confidentiality laws regarding juveniles, cannot disclose details.
This silence leaves families unsettled and students without the reassurance that adults are addressing both the safety concerns and the emotional fallout. The lack of communication undermines trust between parents and the school district.
What Needs to Happen Next
While I hope Monday’s statement sparks meaningful discussion, words alone are not enough. I want to see the district take positive action, including:
• Adopt clear communication guidelines for violent incidents so that parents know when and how they will be notified.
• Provide counseling outreach and resources for students who were directly involved, who witnessed the incident, or who are processing fear and confusion after hearing about it.
• Assure families that steps are being taken to prevent future incidents and to respond consistently when they occur.
Moving Forward
As parents, we entrust our children to the school district each day. That trust depends on knowing we will be informed – not shut out – when their safety is threatened. It is my hope that the district takes this moment not as a chance to retreat behind “no comment,” but as an opportunity to strengthen policies, communication, and care for our students.
Because when it comes to violent incidents on campus, silence is not an option.