Everett schools chief’s life threatened

EVERETT — Police are investigating a “serious, direct” death threat made to Everett School District Superintendent Carol Whitehead.

Whitehead reported the threat to her life about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said.

The threat was specific to Whitehead, and she attempted to reassure students, parents and faculty they were not in danger, in a broadly disseminated message Whitehead recorded Thursday evening.

Neither police nor school officials would provide specifics regarding the nature of the threat.

Whitehead’s message is believed to have reached the homes of the district’s 18,500 students, 2,000 faculty and local business people and community leaders.

Whitehead used the district’s automated phone message system called Connect-ED, which is used to notify parents of student absences and police emergencies.

Whitehead recorded slightly different messages for faculty and parents. For parents, she said:

“Hello, this is Carol Whitehead, the Superintendent of the Everett School District, with a very important message.

“Yesterday, I received a serious, direct threat to my life. I want you to hear from me that this threat was not against any schools, any students or any staff members.

“I assure you, your children are not in danger from this threat nor will this threat place them in danger.

“Law enforcement is investigating the threat and hopes to have the matter resolved shortly.

“I am fine. I have been given excellent support by the Everett Police Department.

“If you have any information that may help law enforcement in this investigation, please call 911 immediately.”

By using the district’s phone number database for parents and staff, “a recorded message gets them all within the same three seconds,” district spokeswoman Mary Waggoner said.

Police have cautioned school officials not to discuss the investigation, Waggoner said.

“Police advised us to take it very seriously,” she added.

Waggoner said district officials can’t comment on the threat. The automated message shows Whitehead “is thinking about other people. She believes they need to know,” Waggoner said. “They’ll hear something, and they need to know the truth that there is no danger indicated as a result of this to any students, any staff or the schools.”

Goetz also declined to release details, but said the threat against Whitehead is being investigated by detectives. The investigation likely will continue at least into next week.

Whitehead has been at the center of controversy in the school district.

Earlier this week, members of the teachers union said they suspect the school district used a surveillance camera to spy on former Cascade High School English and journalism teacher Kay Powers.

Powers was fired, but was assigned to a new job under a settlement with the district.

District leaders would not answer specific questions from The Herald on Monday about the object that the union alleges was a camera. They released a statement from Whitehead that defended the district’s handling of the controversy.

To hear Everett school Superintendent Carol Whitehead’s recorded message, go to www.heraldnet.com.

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