Statements made by some students who witnessed the shooting said it was unclear whether the gunman had specific targets in mind when he began shooting but others told the AP that he believed the gunman was looking for certain students. He said he saw one student dive under a cafeteria table to unsuccessfully hide. The shooter has been described as an outcast who had apparently been bullied by others. Officials would not discuss the motive.

Is bullying being taken seriously by school officials? Is enough being done to prepare our schools, faculty, and students to effectively deal with the issues of bullying? A recent national survey by the School Safety Advocacy Council of almost 1000 school officials and law enforcement officials might surprise you. To view the survey visit www.schoolsafety911.org or click on this link http://www.schoolsafety911.org/PDF/2012SSACBullyingSurvey.pdf. For more information on bullying or training please contact Sean Burke, President SSAC at sburke57@comcast.net .

“This training is a must for School Counselors, School Administrators and School Based Law Enforcement Officers”, continued Lavarello.  The School Safety Advocacy Council Training has become recognized as the nation’s leader in school safety and bullying related training for school faculty and SROs.

For additional information on registering for the Regional Bullying Symposium or the National School Safety Conference (July 23-27, 2012 at the Walt Disney World Swan Resort in Orlando, FL), go to www.schoolsafety911.org

The Bristol County District Attorney’s office has convened a grand jury to investigate the alleged hazing of Andover High School basketball players who attended a summer camp at Stonehill College in Easton, sources confirmed.

School employees, including David Fazio, Andover High basketball coach and a physical education teacher, have been issued subpoenas to testify so far, the sources said yesterday.

Fazio was placed on paid administrative leave Friday while police investigate allegations that two students were forced by upperclassmen to play a humiliating sex game while attending the summer camp in July.

Meanwhile, an Andover High basketball player accused of leading the hazing of the two younger students was suspended for 10 days and his lawyer now expects school officials to expel him.

Attorney Arthur Broadhurst said the student was suspended from both academics and the basketball team for 10 days, a decision he will not fight.

The district intends to expel Broadhurst’s client and a fellow ringleader, as well as suspend five other Andover High students who attended Hoop Mountain basketball camp in July.

At Hoop Mountain, held on the Stonehill College campus, two underclassmen were allegedly pressured into playing a sex game, “wet biscuit,” where the loser had to eat a semen-covered cookie.

Broadhurst would not say if his client will fight the expulsion, citing ongoing criminal investigations by the Easton Police Department and Bristol County District Attorney’s office.

Attorneys for other students involved could not be reached for comment yesterday.

On Friday, during disciplinary hearings at Andover High, students pleaded their cases with school officials for their roles in the hazing scandal. School officials would not disclose the outcome of the hearings for the seven students involved. Attempts to reach Superintendent Marinel McGrath for comment were unsuccessful yesterday.

Broadhurt’s client is also the administrator of a secret Facebook page called “Andover Basketball,” where he and others complained about the police investigation, planned a meeting and vowed to “fix” the situation.

The Eagle-Tribune anonymously received a screenshot of the secret Facebook page last week, which Easton police then asked for.

At Andover High, students facing expulsion or suspension are entitled to hearings where they can question witnesses and present evidence in their defense, according to the schools’ disciplinary policy. The can also appeal the disciplinary action of the superintendent.

If any of the students are criminally charged with hazing, they could face up to a year in jail and a $3,000 fine. Anyone who witnesses hazing but does not report it faces a $1,000 fine if convicted under state law.

As a result of the hazing, Stonehill College terminated its agreement with Hoop Mountain, which will no longer be allowed on campus.

Fazio still holds the title of head coach of the basketball team, Chris Bergeron, Andover High athletic director, said Monday night.

LAWRENCE — School safety officer Richard Rivera is facing felony assault charges for allegedly punching a teenager who went to Lawrence High School last month to inquire about GED testing.

Rivera, 42, of 98 Andover St., Lawrence, is expected to be arraigned on assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charges Wednesday in Lawrence District Court.

Rivera is also a member of the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals, appointed by Mayor William Lantigua.

According to police reports, Rivera, while working as a school safety officer, punched an 18-year-old man in the face during an altercation at the Higher Learning Center, an annex of Lawrence High School, at 183 Haverhill St.

Rivera is now on unpaid leave from his job. A school department hearing is expected to be held this week, and depending on the outcome, Rivera could be stripped of his pay, according to Acting Superintendent Mary Lou Bergeron.

According to police reports, Rivera punched John Hartley III, 18, of 304 Howard St., Nov. 17 after he went to the Higher Learning Center to inquire about the school’s GED program. Hartley left the school with a friend and then they both returned a short time later. When they came back, the altercation with Rivera occurred.

Rivera first said Hartley did not assault him before he punched him. Later, when interviewed by police Officer Jonathan Armano, a school resource officer, Rivera said Hartley swore at him and “took a swing” at him when he approached him on school grounds.

But Hartley told police Rivera “punched him in the face and began to struggle with him for no reason.” Rivera also yelled and swore at him for trespassing, said Hartley, adding he felt “dazed” and “knocked out” after the assault.

Other school workers also saw Rivera punch Hartley, according to the reports.

Hartley was treated at Lawrence General Hospital for pain and a deep bruise to his jaw.

Rivera also complained to a co-worker, who called 911 and notified police of the assault. “You shouldn’t have called the cops, now I’m in a lot of trouble,” Rivera told the co-worker, according to Armano’s report.

“I wouldn’t want to make him mad. He’s a big guy,” the worker told Armano.

Rivera was also involved in a police-related incident at the high school in March 2010. He was one of three school safety officers charged with misleading police during an underage drinking investigation.

He, Jesus Hernandez, 33, and Johnny Paredes, 46, were accused of lying to police about whether surveillance videos captured images of students drinking rum in the Lawrence High School cafeteria. All three were found not guilty by a District Court judge in August 2010.