By Dean Vaglia
Leader Staff Writer
The student who brought a deer head to Oxford High School last November tried attending class last Thursday, Jan. 27.
According to a Jan. 29 statement from Superintendent Tim Throne, the student entered a first-period class and was caught by the teacher. School resource officers escorted the student to a secure area for searching, finding only a laptop and district-issued bag. The student is enrolled in online learning and intended to take in-person classes. Their parent arrived quickly and handled the situation in a “cooperative and apologetic” manner.
While the situation and student were deemed not a threat, new entry procedures are in place to prevent a repeat incident. Students have to show their 2021-2022 student ID and have their backpacks “visually scanned” before entering. If a student does not have their ID on them, they will be checked in through the PowerSchool application on their phone and arrangements will be made to make a new ID. Late students and guests will be buzzed in through the front entrance, sign in with their ID or PowerSchool account and monitored.
There is increased security at main entryways and doors will only be unlocked for a roughly 40 minute window before classes start. Students are not allowed to prop open doors and will face disciplinary action for doing so. Non-transparent athletic and instrument bags are checked upon entry.
Before classes began on Nov. 4, OHS staff discovered a severed deer head in a courtyard and several messages spray painted outside the school. Security camera footage identified the student, who was taken into custody by Oakland County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) deputies. An OCSO investigation found no blood in the paint, determined the head was from off-campus roadkill and the student did not go inside the school. There is no connection between the Nov. 4 incident and the Nov. 30 shooting.