Say What???
http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-feb0808-vale_student_return.a299b0f0.html
http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-feb0808-vale_student_return.a299b0f0.html
7th grader going back to school after shooting mom
07:01 PM MST on Friday, February 8, 2008
VALE, Ore. -- A 12-year-old boy who shot his mom three-and-a-half months ago in Vale, Oregon, is headed back to school with his classmates.
While a number of parents are upset, school officials say they have no choice.
Tyler Flint shot and wounded his mom, and was arrested and charged with aggravated assault in the second-degree.
Now just a few months after the Oct. 30th shooting, Flint has been deemed OK to return to school.
Flint is a 7th grader at Vale Middle School. On Monday, he will go back to school.
While the district attorney wasn't available to talk about the case, Linda Cummings with Oregon’s Juvenile Department of Corrections says Flint has no previous criminal record, he's attended counseling, and has had several psychological evaluations.
Because he doesn't appear to be a risk, Cummings says it's the district’s duty to educate the child.
“Do you feel it is safe for Tyler Flint to go back to school?” asked NewsChannel 7.
“Both the evaluations that he has had says that he's a very low risk to return, and he's also received individual counseling and that counselor also feels he is a very low risk," said Cummings
The district has been preparing for Flint’s return. He will continuously be checking in with officers, and the school has a safety plan in place.
Flint has been under house arrest, and living with his grandparents since the shooting.
His mother has asked that her son be able to live with her again.
NewsChannel 7 talked to parents who are upset about the boy’s return. They don't feel safe about it.
But we also talked to one man who says the child deserves an education and a second chance.
The school would not comment about Flint's return, but they did give us this statement:
“This incident has run its course through our legal system. The child is a resident of the Vale School District and the district has a legal responsibility to provide this child with an education.”