Teacher Reportedly Kills Assistant Principal

CENTERVILLE, Tenn. - A science teacher was preparing to blow up the school when the assistant principal discovered him, so he shot the administrator to death, according to a published report today.

Donald Givens is charged with fatally shooting Assistant Principal Ron Wallace, then setting fire to the school, investigators said. Givens was being held without bond today at the county jail.

The Nashville Banner, quoting unidentified investigators, reported today that Givens was preparing to set off an explosion at Hickman County High School when Wallace walked in on him yesterday morning.

Givens was turning on propane gas spigots in the school science department where candles were burning, investigators told the Banner.

Superintendent Wayne Qualls said several student complaints had been lodged against Givens, 50, and the teacher may have feared he was about to lose his tenured job.

Wallace had gone to the school to put the finishing touches on the school's auditorium for the afternoon baccalaureate service, Principal Rick Brewer said.

Wallace was shot twice, police Officer Howard Choate said.

Candles were used to set fire to the science wing, and fires were also set in two libraries, Choate said. He said the gas in the biology lab had been turned on, but firefighters shut it off before it ignited.

Firefighters put out the fires in about 20 minutes. Damage, estimated at $150,000, was confined to books and materials.

Before his arrest, Givens had come to the school and acted like one of the bereaved faculty, sitting at a desk and drinking coffee, Fire Chief Kenneth Thompson said. He would not say what led authorities to Givens.

Wallace also was athletic director at the school in this town of 2,800 people 40 miles southwest of Nashville. His daughter, April, is the class president for this year's graduating seniors at the 850-student school.

Classes were canceled today.

``It's a devastating and shocking situation,'' said English teacher Linda Richardson. ``It's really frightening. This is something that you just don't expect to happen. This community is really close-knit.''