School Threat

The Elizabeth School District is expected to respond Thursday to allegations a school administrator threatened to "kill" an unruly student. The school board is set to act on a report in connection with the Oct. 23 incident at the George Washington School. The investigation stemmed from charges filed by Rasheda Richardson, 27, who alleged her 10-year-old son was terrified during vice principal Gwendolyn Ford's attempt to discipline the student. Ford allegedly told the student, "Sit down and be quiet, or I'll kill you" after the student had pushed another boy in the cafeteria line. Assistant Superintendent Manuel Gonzalez, who completed the administrative investigation of the incident, said Ford's threat was made in the heat of disciplining the boy was not meant to be taken literally. Gonzalez said Ford's remark is in contrast to when a student threatens a schoolmate or teacher. However, the boy's mother told school officials her son left school and ran the three blocks to his home. He returned to class the next school day. However, she said the vice principal should not have made the remark and that her son knew no better than to take it seriously.