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Important Message from Superintendent Dr. Barry Collins
OCS Families,
September 1 was a traumatic day for Onslow County Schools, and one that will not soon be forgotten. On Thursday, an incident occurred at Northside High School and one student was fatally wounded.
As we work through the pain from this tragic incident, I want to extend my prayers and hope for healing to the family of our deceased student and to all students, staff and parents at Northside.
Thank you to our parents at Northside and the other schools in the Commons area for their patience and understanding as we worked to manage lockdowns and carry out the early dismissal of students from the high school.
I would like to commend the Northside High School administrators, staff and school resource officers for their quick response to the incident and for keeping our students safe. These individuals reacted as they have been trained and helped keep things under control.
Thank you to the Jacksonville Police Department and our other law enforcement agencies for their response today and for their valuable partnership in keeping our students and staff safe. We are glad to share that a suspect is in custody, and OCS will be working with the Jacksonville Police Department, the District Attorney’s office, and others to provide all the support we can as the investigation continues.
If your children are experiencing distress or anxiety related to this incident, I would encourage you to reach out to your school counselor for support.
I can assure you that we will be reviewing this incident closely and continuing to prioritize the safety of our students and staff.
Thank you,
Dr. Barry Collins
OCS Superintendent