LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Several schools across Arkansas are ending the week the same way that it began, as more potential threats against schools in Central Arkansas were revealed on Friday.
So far, every potential threat that has been made was ultimately false. In response to this, superintendents for various school districts have sent out messages to parents asking for help in expressing the severity of this situation to their kids.
On Thursday, Superintendent Tony Thurman with the Cabot School District told the public about a suspect who allegedly left a threatening message in the high school's bathroom.
The next day, Lonoke School District Superintendent Jeff Senn shared that they have been investigating a similar incident at their middle school.
Superintendent Senn explained that the suspect allegedly wrote on the wall of the sixth-grade bathroom and said they were "going to shoot the school up."
The district shared that they immediately treated that as a terroristic threat, and have been working with law enforcement to find out who did it.
They announced on September 15 that a juvenile had been arrested and charged for their involvement in the terroristic threat.
On Friday afternoon, Searcy School District Superintendent Dr. Bobby Hart shared a message in regards to a potential threat of violence that was sent into the school which said something would happen on September 16.
He said that both the school district and Searcy PD are working diligently to identify the suspect behind the threat.
However, with situations like these happening at several schools, districts have been on high alert, and are urging parents to ensure that the severity of this issue is expressed. to their children.
"Safety starts at home, and your proactive involvement is essential," said Superintendent Thurman.
Senn explained how there is no tolerance for threats, and assured that they will execute that to the farthest extent of the law.
With every call to action comes a reminder of why school districts have been addressing these incidents.
"I Can't imagine what it's like to be an adolescent growing up in today's world with as many factors as there are going on," said Superintendent Bruce Orr with the Lakeside School District.
He said that staff in their district have been doing their best to keep parents and students calm.
"We're loving on them, teaching them, and assuring them that that they are going to be well," Orr added.
All superintendents have asked parents to be patient with schools during this process.
While the school districts cannot share all information so as to not tamper with the investigations, they are doing their best to share as much as they can with the public.