Worth County School District launches investigation into hit list

SYLVESTER — Officials with the Worth County School District issued a statement on Wednesday saying they would launch an investigation after a middle school student was found to have written a “hit list.”

A letter from Superintendent Bill Settle said that a seventh-grade student at Worth County Middle School wrote the list, which included some names of students and at least one teacher.

“Upon finding the note, classmates reported the incident to WCMS administration who promptly followed school protocol,” the letter from Settle said. “Although our investigation continues into this event, you can be assured that the school district is prepared to take all necessary legal and district actions to ensure the safety of our students and staff. The student will be subject to the full extent of our Student Code of Conduct and of law enforcement.

“Our community and schools, like all communities and schools throughout our country, are not immune to such behaviors, but I can guarantee Worth County Schools is 100 percent committed to the safety of all students and staff as shown through our actions in this situation today. I am proud of our students for stepping up and reporting such actions to our administration and staff. We will continue to be vigilant in our protocols and our actions to ensure our schools remain safe.”