School Threats: Hartland Vandalism Separate from Threats, Holly Teen Charged with Felony

The investigation into two area schools threats have continued this week.

Hartland Schools Superintendent Janet Sifferman has confirmed that the student responsible for the social media threats which resulted in  being  was not responsible for the .

The number 24 was spray painted on various signs and buildings on school property the week before the threats, and because of similar language, the district suspected they were connected.

In Holly, Devin Dwayne Saxon, 17, of Holly was charged Tuesday with false report or threat of terrorism, a 20-year felony, according to the . The article stated he is banned from all Holly schools’ property.

On Saturday, the Holly Police Department received information about a 17-year-old Holly Resident sending some threatening messages about what he might do to people at the Holly Middle School on Monday, according to a press release from Village of Holly Police Chief, Elena Danishevskaya.

Police said the suspect also warned his friends who go to the Holly Middle school not to go to school on Monday, because he doesn’t want them to get hurt.

No students associated with the Hartland incident face charges.

The Hartland students associated with the vandalism of the school has been suspended and with the names being given to the assistant superintendent to be scheduled for an expulsion hearing.

The 18-year-old student who created a social media panic by sending Twitter and Facebook messages referencing the words, ” has been issued a 10-day suspension and will also be scheduled for an expulsion hearing before the 10 days are up, according to district policy.

The names of the students will not be released by Hartland schools, according to Sifferman. She said this is a protocol the district follows to protect the privacy of its students.

The question of whether the senior responsible for the threats will receive his diploma will also be decided at the expulsion hearing. 

“That's the opportunity for the student to have his due rights process,” Sifferman said, explaining that the student and parents will have a chance to speak. The board will also review school history, including grades and attendance.

“It’s not preconceived,” she said. “It has to go through the process.”

Sifferman also says that the situation has been resolved and asks parents to speak with their children about "proper and safe use of social media."

“Don’t ruin the end of your senior year by making threats or being a part of senior pranks or whatever,” she said. “The kids have made it this far, they have done a wonderful job, we want to celebrate their success, we don’t want to be in a position where because of poor decisions we have to come up with some sort of disciplinary action that would maybe prohibit them from taking part in our graduation celebration.”