The ‘terroristic threat’ Thing

Police clarify investigation of principal

Police contradicted media reports this week that New Braunfels Middle School principal John Burks is under investigation for terroristic threats.

Burks actually is being investigated for verbal assault, said Sgt. Mike Penshorn with the New Braunfels Police Department, and “terroristic threat” was merely a term used by dispatchers. “For some reason, people keyed into the ‘terroristic threat’ thing when dispatchers put the call out ...” said Penshorn, adding that the case “is just being investigated as an incident in general.”

According to science teacher Anita White, Burks threatened her life and colleagues’ lives at a January meeting, then nixed White’s 18-year-tenure at NBMS by moving her this week to the district’s alternative Learning Center.

The reason? Standardized test scores, said White, who chaired the school’s science department.

“His statement was that if the scores were not to his liking on the TAKS test ... he would kill us all and then shoot himself,” she said, adding that Burks described himself as ‘ruthless.’

White said her reassignment came March 14 via e-mail, and she said when the two spoke later, Burks again referred to himself as being ruthless.

NBISD officials have declined to comment, save for a statement denying allegations and quoting Burks as saying, “all personnel decisions are made with the best interests of students in mind.” Board president Bill Biggadike said the district does not consider Burks a safety hazard.

Burks was hired last summer, and has about 30 years of experience in public education. He was most recently principal at Lavernia High School.“There are so many kids who can attribute their graduation to him,” said 2006 Lavernia graduate Sam Casey, who transferred from Germany his junior year. Casey felt like an outcast, he said — but Burks became his mentor, and “for the first time, I felt like a teacher was listening to me. That will stay with me forever. I know I’m not the first and I hope to God I’m not the last student who will be affected in the same way.”’

Burks was reached by phone Thursday but politely declined to comment.

This from the Herald-Zeitung.