CROCKER, Mo. — On Sept. 25, Ozarks First reported about a social media post the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office made regarding threats towards the Crocker School District.
The public backlash was regarding a scheduled performance from a traveling magician.
In the days after, that magician was replaced, but the school district says they didn’t make the switch.
“Once this concern was first raised on social media instead of through the proper channels, it interrupted the normal flow of the school day. Even so, we immediately began working on ways to address the situation and support our students and staff. While the district did not have the authority to choose or replace the performer, the vendor ultimately decided to send another magician in place of the originally assigned one,” a statement to parents read.
Ashley Burton, the Superintendent for Crocker Schools, says the original magician was selected by the Missouri AfterSchool Network (MASN), not the district.
“As part of this grant, the MASN directly assigns vendors to programs. Neither the district nor building administration was involved in choosing the original performer. The documentation we received only described the kits, lessons, and enrichment activities. With this level of state oversight in place, it is not a standard practice for districts to add extra vetting or ask about a vendor’s or performer’s personal identity or protected characteristics.”
In place of the originally scheduled magician is Ben Ulin, a performer the district says was replaced by the MASN.
“The Crocker LEAP program is now scheduled to host Ben Ulin, a Midwest comedian and magician, on Tuesday, October 7th. He is known for his family-friendly comedy and magic shows and has performed for schools, amusement parks, and community events for many years. This event is still scheduled after regular school hours, as part of LEAP Family Night from 5:30–6:30 p.m. Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend with their children. If your child remains at LEAP during this time, they may either watch the show or, if you prefer, attend another class if you let us know in advance,” Burton’s statement read.
Burton’s message to families included the request that people take future frustrations to the schools, and not to social media.
“I also want to be clear that this situation was never about questioning the values of our community. We share the same commitment to faith, family, and protecting our children that makes Crocker such a strong and caring place to live. The difficulty came from how concerns were shared, with posts going to social media rather than being brought directly to the school. In the future, for the sake of our students, staff, and community, we encourage families to reach out directly to administration. That way, we can work together to address concerns quickly and find solutions without creating unnecessary fear or division,” Burton said.
Burton’s statement ends with a pledge of transparency.
“I know this situation has caused concern and frustration, which is why my goal in sharing this information is to be transparent and maintain trust by making sure you know exactly how this unfolded. I am grateful for the many parents and community members who reached out directly to seek the truth, and I thank you for your continued support as we work together to keep Crocker Schools a safe and positive place for our children. We are also proud of how our staff have handled this difficult situation, and we want our community to know they have our full support,” Burton said.
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