An issue with school being threatend. - Would you be upset?

Crystalina wrote: I received a letter from Izabella's school today stating that there was a threatening email sent to the school district. The email was received at 5:30pm so the kids were already home but I think the teachers should have been asked to call the parents of the students in their class. We do not have 30 some kids to a class in this school so it could have been done. Izabella only has 18 kids in her class including herself. We, as parents to the kids threatened should have been able to make up our own minds as to whether we wanted to send our kids to school today or the rest of the week for that matter. Now I know that more then likely it was someone blowing smoke but my concern is that Izabella's school is directly next door to a college. The college is one block over.

The letter also states that the sender of the email is not from our area (which makes me wonder why he would target this school district) and that within hours of sending it the police were at the senders residence. It says nothing about an arrest or who the person is. I think we have a right to know who the person is threatening to shoot up our kids. It could very well have been a minor but we have the right to know if it was or not.

ETA-Izabella's school only goes up to second grade so it would be the perfect target for some sicko who wants to make a statement. Not only that it is the only school (besides the college) that is on the main street by the interstate

stella6979 replied: I absolutley agree that each and every parent/guardian should be notified.

Crystalina replied:
They use the excuse that it is not realistic to contact every family by phone but I think if the teachers call the families of the students in their class it can be done.

I realize that it was probably nothing because if someone really wanted to do it they would not warn ahead of time but that should be a choice for the parents to make.

holley79 replied: Every parent should have been notified. That's nuts.

We have been having mock drills at out schools to see how the schools and LEs will respond should anything happen. As we all know when the chips are down things go differently then a drill. Let's all just hope and pray the schools are not targeted.

moped replied: So what are you going to do? I would be freaking out....but I am a freak.
So how do you feel about all this?

Kirstenmumof3 replied: It's unfortunate that these attacks bring out the worst in people and cause a lot of copy cats. I agree that the parents should have been informed right away and had the choice of whether or not to send there children to school!

lisar replied: Well I am a bi%&h when it comes to my kids and things like that. I would have gone off on them. However Lexi's school does do pratcie lockdowns. And they notify the parents of these before hand. When the school goes on lackdown I cant even get in there to pick her up. Now on the practice ones they are only on lockdown for about 20 minutes. But we know atleast 2 days in advance.

stella6979 replied:
What a cop out. It is realistic and can be done. I work for a water distribution company and I call up to 100 people every Friday and can get it done it less than one hour. If the teachers have the phone numbers, there is NO reason they can't call.
As far as it being nothing, you could be right, but then again, you never know. Just because the threat came in at 5:30 doesn't mean that person won't do something another day. I'm not saying to live in fear, but I think all parents have a right to know if their child may be in danger.

mom2my2cuties replied: Well, even though it is unrealistic for the teachers to call EVERYONE - at the school's around here, there is a phone tree and each person is responsible for calling only one other person. And that would have been the perfect way of getting the information out.

Perhaps it is time for you to organize something like that with the other parents and the teacher? I agree that you should have been notified, but the school was probably thinking that after hours the kids were safe and at home, and it sounds like they have been on top of things with this situation.

Crystalina replied:
I've talked to the school and they say that they are practicing "lock down" procedures as part of their ongoing safety program. They are working with local and state agencies in the investigation. That's all they tell me.

I tried keeping Izabella home today but she started crying because they are having a school program today and she wants to be able to practice with her friends. She made me feel like crap for wanting her to stay home. DH said to let her go because more then likely it is nothing and when it's all said and done she will have missed her first school program because of some idiot that we don't even know. My thing is that we were warned yet I still sent her to school. WTH?

moped replied:
Yeah I understand - what to do....I am sure everything will be jsut fine, but you are going to have a looooong day.

Let us know!

Crystalina replied:
I'm seriously going to look into something like that. I have the same issue if the school gets out early. They don't call the parents. Izabella rides the bus home and the bus drops her off almost a mile from our house. I have to drive to the stop to get her every day. If they let her out early and don't call then she's not like the other kids who can just walk to their house. She's only 6 and can't walk almost a country mile. And what about the kids who's parents lock the doors when they leave? I called and asked about this and they said that if I want they will personally call me if school lets out early. I told them they better. That's just crazy not to.

C&K*s Mommie replied: You mean scheduled early let-out days? If that is what you mean, that is crazy that they do not inform you in advance. Even a note on the door to the classroom, or commons area where parents who pick up their kids can see a sign- or something. Christian's school has signs on doors, in monthly newsletters, and notes on kids backs letting parents know that the kids will be let out early on specific days. I cannot imagine having a child trek a mile to their home, when they get out early and the parent is not advised ahead of time.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: That's absoloutely ridiculous. A teacher, having to call 15 to 30 families, is NOT a big deal. It is not nearly impossible, far from it. I mean - ok - technically they're supposed to be 30 second phone calls, and likely lots of parents are going to want more infor and are oging to want to try to keep the teacher on the phone for more details... etc... but for crying out loud, TELL THE PARENTS.

If that happened at my son's school, I'd pull him out and homeschool, immediately. If the school cannot responsibly inform the parents of stuff this important, how can I be assured that they'd tell me something relatively minor in comparison?

Zach has a daily log book (all the kids do) and there is slmost daily communication between parents and teachers. There is 18 other students in Zach's class. The teacher writes the notes during the rest period at the school, or during the recesses. There's NO EXCUSE why something like that couldn't be told to the parents... even a recorded message sent out to the parents would be great. That way, the parents couldn't interrupt the caller, and couldn't ask questions...

Tha'ts crazy. All these whackjobs out there are enough to make me think seriously harder about homeschooling. Heck, I'm home all day ANYWAYS.

Crystalina replied:
I mean for bad snow or a water leak or something like that. If school has to let out for an unscheduled reason they do not tell the parents unless you ask to be told. I didn't know I had to ask until I questioned them.

Other then the threat to shoot up the school and the fact that they don't tell you when your kid gets out early unexpectedly it's really a great school.

Mommy2BAK replied: Oh wow! I would be furious!!! They need to look into a good system where they can easily relay message to and from teachers to parents.

Miranda1127 replied: omg YES parents/guardians should have definetly been notified

good luck and best wishes

Nina J replied: I would be upset. But these threats usually turn out as hoaxs most of the time. The school some of my neices and nephews go to, and the school I plan on sending my kids to, gets bomb threats alot. So they call the bomb police and have to get the entire school checked. They always get the person who does it, and funnily enough it has always been an ex-student looking for some fun They never learn. Some of the kids who have done it have gone to the school when bomb threats happened, and would've known that they always get caught. Yet they still do it. The school is very good though, within minutes of reciveing the threats the entire school is evacuated and the police are notified. I have alot of confidence sending my girls there, since they are very good. But, I would be disapointed that you didn't recive a telephone call. I mean, the school my neices and nephews go to only contact people by telephone. There has been times when the school buses have been delayed by fires during summer. The school rings every parents who has a child on the bus, and most buses have 40-50 kids.

Crystalina replied: Well, I went to Izabella's school program last night and talked to her teacher. I found out they did make an arrest. It was not a kid it was a grown man. He is a paraplegic. I'm not stunned that he's a paraplegic more so that he's an adult with a handicap and you think he would have more compassion in his life. He could be someone who didn't get any compassion and hates the world now. I don't know. It's really scary to find out this was an adult though. A kid or teen I would expect this from but a grown man. It's way scarier knowing that.

moped replied: OMG that is brutal - I am so sorry. So was the arrest based on threst? Does that mean not much will come of it?

flirtycuddle replied: When I was in High School we'd do the lock down drills. We had the drill and 3 days later suddenly the whole school was evacuated first to the gym then to the foot ball feild. We were outside for 4 hours and saw the bomb squad and fire and news and everything. They never told us what was going on just said it was an unscheduled assembly. Like an hour before we could go back in the bomb squad started searching the bleachers and such of the football feild. We look over and there is one of those robots going in the snack thing and then coming out with a duffle bag. Every student at that point knew what was going on. Yet even when they started searching the football feild area they kept us on the bleachers. After the bag was removed they sent up back to class as if nothing had happened and never said a thing about it. Most of the kids did leave school at that point but even parents never knew what was going on and the school never said a thing about it. Just acted as if nothing had happened.

MommyToAshley replied:
Wow... that is scary. Did they say why he sent it.... was it a prank or was he planning something?

I am with you, I would be furious that you weren't notified so that YOU could make the decision whether or not to send your child to school. I don't think I would drop this issue, I would bring it up to the school board and ask for a policy change.

A&A'smommy replied: I would be upset too!!!

Crystalina replied: The teacher did not elaborate much about what happend to the man other then he was arrested. She was also so busy talking to other parents that I didn't want to drill her with a million questions that would take time to answer.

I talked to another mother who has helped me organize a few class parities and we are thinking of starting one of those phone chains one of you mentioned. That is a really good idea.

I guess the story was in our local paper but I've yet to read it. I will go do that now.

Crystalina replied: This is what was in our paper. If I had known this info yesterday she would not have went to school! And he's out. Who's to say he won't do anything? Schools always get shot up because someone has a grudge.

I've deleted the school name and other names for obvious reasons.



-- The only connection the (School name deleted) has to a man who sent an alarming e-mail to (school name deleted) is an indirect one, Superintendent Jim (deleted) said Thursday morning.

On Tuesday evening, Kevin (deleted), a quadriplegic living in Reynoldsburg, sent the following e-mail: "Can you hear me now?! Next school shooting will happen here."

The e-mail was sent to (Sup. Jim) at about 5:30 p.m.

"I must have just missed it," (Sup.Jim) said. "I had gone home and taken my son to ball practice when I received a call from another superintendent."

Maysville Superintendent (name deleted) had received the e-mail, contacted law enforcement and then called other superintendents.

(Super. Jim) went to his office and found the same e-mail.

"The guy wasn't trying to hide," (Super. Jim) said. "[Police] were already in transit to the [suspect's] house when I called."

(The Suspect) told authorities that his message was not intended as a threat but as a warning that a shooting could occur at Excel Academy in Jacksontown.

Excel Academy is a school that caters to behaviorally handicapped students, (Super. Jim) said.

"[Suspect] is the disgruntled uncle of a former student at the school," he said.

"He created his own Web site and posted disparaging comments about the school and a particular teacher.

"We have sent students there in the past and have been very happy with their services."

(Super. Jim) believes the fact that (School's name) has sent students to Excel in the past is the reason he received an e-mail.

Apparently, the e-mail was prompted by (Suspect's ) dismay that no one was responding to the allegations on his Web site.

(Super. Jim) said the superintendents took the e-mail situation seriously but did not feel that it was a direct threat to their schools.

"All of the districts took it seriously in the sense that there was a heightened sense of awareness," he said. "We knew there would be reports in the media. So, we thought we should send a letter home with the students to ease people's fears."

Law enforcement authorities have indicated they do not believe there was a credible threat and that they will not prosecute (suspect)

(Super. Jim) is uncertain whether he agrees with that decision.

"What message does that send? If you can do this and get away with it?"

moped replied: OMG OMG

It keeps getting worse.

What state do you live in? I forget?

That is terrible.......

I am speechless

Crystalina replied: Ohio.
And Izabella goes to one of the best schools in the area. It's obvious this can happen anywhere. Like I told DH crazy things like that always happen in quaint little towns like this one. You never hear of a mass murder in a school in a big city. It's always Anywhere USA. Well, the ones I'm thinking of anyway. It's like you never heard of the town until a maniac decided to open fire on a school. That's this town.