4th-graders planned to kill teacher with hand sanitizer



ELBA, N.Y. -- Law enforcement officials say a group of fourth-grade students allegedly talked about trying to kill their teacher with hand sanitizer because she was mean to them, but concerned parents and a school board member foiled the plot.

The alleged incident happened in December just before winter break, and according to the police report, three students between ages 9 and 10 at Elba Elementary School, located between Rochester and Buffalo, were involved.

Their plan was to expose a teacher to anti-bacterial products because she is highly allergic to them.

The report, provided by the Genesee County Sheriff's Department, said, "the suspects made comments to other students that they were going to kill (the teacher) by putting antibacterial products around the classroom."

Youth officers interviewed the suspected students with their parents and school officials present. One student stated that her teacher "yells at us and that the class has problems with her," according to the report.

Another student seemed to indicate the plan to poison the teacher started with yet another student.

A board member contacted police after she heard of the plan from other parents and her son.

In the end, the school decided it would handle the case, so the Sheriff's Department is no longer involved.

"I think the school took it very seriously," said Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster. "Although there was some discussion about doing this, it never actually happened. They never carried through with it."

Elba Central School District Superintendent Jerome Piwko said in a statement released Thursday the district was prohibited from commenting on the incident due to student privacy policies, but emphasized that "no one was injured or actually placed in harm's way."

"The District does not condone any of the behaviors that have been reported and is in the process of working alongside the Sheriff's Department to use this incident as a vehicle for educating the District's students regarding appropriate behaviors," the statement said.

A motive isn't clear, however the Genesee County Sheriff's Department report indicated students said bullying was an issue in the classroom, and that the class "had problems working together."