Sage Valley Middle School adds police after weapon reports
Vallivue parents question notification timelines and demand clearer safety protocols following recent security incidents.
By Aiko Nakamura ·
Sage Valley Middle School in Nampa will increase its police presence starting Wednesday, Nov. 11. The decision follows a week of security concerns involving a reported weapon on campus and a separate, unsubstantiated threat of a school shooting.
The Vallivue School District sent multiple updates to families during the week. In an email dated Nov. 6, the district stated that initial findings did not confirm a weapon had been on campus. The next morning, the district revised that position, saying key witnesses confirmed a weapon was present on Nov. 4. A second email sent Nov. 9 addressed a separate shooting threat. The district reported that investigators found that specific threat to be unsubstantiated.
Parents raised these issues at the Vallivue School Board meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Many attendees said they have kept their children home from school because of lingering doubts about safety. Some families reported hearing about a knife, additional threats, and a possible list of targeted students, though the district did not confirm all these details in its official communications.
Erin Willes, a parent, questioned the timeline of the district's response. “Now that they're saying, ‘Oh sorry, it was two days later, but it's safe, you can send your kids to school,’ I do not feel safe,” Willes told reporters. Kayla McGer said her daughter broke down over the events. “She just broke down. Like, she doesn't want to go back,” McGer said. McGer added that she is considering stopping work to homeschool her child because she no longer trusts the district's handling of the situation.
Other parents asked the board to consider adding metal detectors or handheld screening wands to the building. Danny Houston, a parent, asked the district to explain its investigation and notification process more clearly. “That's my firstborn daughter. That's my baby,” Houston said. “So if you guys could address these issues and kind of help us better understand your process.”
The district told Idaho News 6 that it takes every report seriously. Administrators cautioned that sharing unverified information can create unnecessary fear or interfere with active investigations. After the board meeting, school administrators emailed families to confirm that they believe students are safe and that additional police will be on campus beginning Wednesday.
The Vallivue School District did not provide additional comment on Tuesday night.
