Guilderland student's return after 'Kill List'

GUILDERLAND (NEWS10) – Parents in the Guilderland School District have raised concerns after a student who created a "kill list" returned to school following a suspension and criminal charges.

Deanna Cornelius, a parent with two children in the district, including one whose name appeared on the list, highlighted the lack of communication from the school. "We had received no prior notification that there was a possibility of the child returning, or no confirmation that it was happening," Cornelius said.

The student, who attended Farnsworth Middle School, was suspended last year after compiling a list of around 20 students and one teacher under the title “Kill List.” The student was arrested and charged with making a threat of mass harm. When students arrived for high school orientation this summer, the student had returned, which some parents said they were not informed about in advance.

“We've received no information at all,” Cornelius added when asked whether the district had shared any details about the decision to allow the student back. She noted that while privacy laws may protect the student’s identity, safety-related questions remained unanswered. "Is he being searched? Is his bag being checked to make sure there’s no weapon? What are we doing?" she asked.

Emails obtained by News10 between the school and parents indicated that administrators cited privacy concerns, referencing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law that prohibits schools from sharing personal information from a student's education record without written consent. However, the law allows information to be shared with state and local authorities under certain conditions.

Guilderland High School is within the jurisdiction of the Albany County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Craig Apple confirmed that a "safety plan" had been developed for the student’s return, stating, "When a child returns, they develop what's called a safety plan. That safety plan varies for each person."

In response to parents' concerns, the district provided a statement, saying, “The district places the highest priority on safety and security and has a comprehensive plan in place to protect all students and staff both broadly and in specific student circumstances.”

A Department of Education meeting is scheduled for Tuesday night, where parents plan to attend and seek further information.