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April 10, 2002Teacher accused of bomb threat- Grayling educator called in threat on March 11 because she wanted day offBy DAN SANDERSONRecord-Eagle staff writer GRAYLING - A third-year middle school mathematics teacher who reportedly told police she wanted the day off was charged Tuesday with calling in a bomb threat to Grayling Middle School. Kathryn Anne Olson, 43, was arraigned in Crawford County District Court on a felony charge of making a false report or threat with a harmful device. She faces up to four years in prison and a $2,000 fine if convicted. Crawford County Sheriff Kirk Wakefield said Olson called Grayling Middle School during the early morning hours of Monday, March 11, to say there was a bomb in the school. Crawford AuSable School District officials canceled school for the day only for the middle school, since the threat had been specific to that school, Wakefield said. School had been canceled due to ice and snow at many other districts across the region, but not Crawford-AuSable. Middle school principal Doneil Pummell said the caller said she "hoped they found the bomb that was in the school," Wakefield said. An extensive search of the building by Crawford County Sheriff's Deputies, Grayling City Police officers and troopers from the Gaylord post of the Michigan State Police, with the aid of an explosive sniffing dog failed to turn up any explosives. Wakefield said Randal Herman, a sheriff's deputy and the middle school liaison officer, obtained search warrants for the school's phone records and discovered that the call came from Olson's Beaver Creek Township home. Wakefield said Olson confessed on March 25 to making the call but was given until Tuesday to surrender to police. Wakefield said Olson told officers she was under a lot of personal and job-related stress and wanted the day off. Instead of taking a sick or personal day or contacting a union representative or school administrator, she made the bomb threat, Wakefield said. "Instead of reaching out, sometimes people act out and that's what happened in this case," Wakefield said. Olson waived her right to hold a preliminary examination on the charge within 14 days. Rich Jaskowksi, a Grayling attorney representing Olson, requested at least 60 days so his client could undergo evaluations. Following the arraignment, Jaskowski declined to elaborate on the nature of the evaluations he was seeking. He said that information would come out at a later date and he would likely issue a written statement on her behalf. Olson, who has been placed on administrative leave with pay, has been working for the district for three years, superintendent Milli Haug said. Haug, who said she was going to meet with Olson Tuesday afternoon, said the district is completing its own independent investigation into the incident. "Anybody that would threaten a school, I think that is just a terrible thing to do, especially after Columbine and 9/11," Haug said. "It's been very stressful for the entire community - the students, the parents and we're just all very upset." Haug said Olson is an eighth-grade mathematics teacher who was part of a team teaching group. A veteran teacher in charge of the district's Title One programs is taking Olson's place and will fill in as long as needed, Haug said. Parents described Olson as being very popular with her students and very involved with the school as well the community soccer program. "If she's not in school, she will be sorely missed," said Gaye Pizzi, whose son attends the school. "It really, really is a shame." "We're just amazed and dumfounded that this was even possible," said Nancy Persing, who has children in the school and is active in a number of programs.
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