LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – School threats are rising across the nation, Arkansas being one of the states impacted by this phenomenon.
Whether the threats are not followed through, police are enforcing consequences.
“I think the solution of more parent involvement and more parent engagement is actually a solution to many of the issues we see in schools,” Little Rock School District Superintendent Dr. Jermall Wright said.
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Little Rock Police Department said in a statement posted to Facebook:
“The Little Rock Police Department (LRPD) has been actively responding to threats of violence against local schools, demonstrating our commitment to ensuring the safety of students and staff. Our efforts have resulted in two arrests of individuals who threatened to commit acts of violence on school property. These charges also have strict consequences.”
The threats and arrests were made at Southwest High School in the Little Rock School District and Premier High School outside the district.
“The more we can get our parents on board with us to have conversations with their children, to hold their children accountable, the better off our children and our schools will be,” Wright said.
The Little Rock Police Department is taking steps to improve safety by implementing security measures, threat assessment protocols, and collaborative partnerships between schools.
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The Little Rock School District is also taking steps by installing metal and weapon detectors and Centegix, a panic alarm system, while conversing with educators and students on safety protocol.
“I know our school leaders, our teachers, have those conversations continually with students, but I do think this is going to amp up our efforts a bit,” Wright said.
Wright says that while he is sad that a student had to be arrested for others to realize the implications they could be looking at when making a threat, he believes this will show students that their actions have consequences.
“Sometimes our students need to know that there are serious consequences or serious repercussions,” Wright said.
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Wright notes that students make mistakes, which is a part of learning and growing up. He also says these actions are severe and will not be taken lightly.
Wright also believes our social media-driven world directly impacts our schools.
“I’ve said this repeatedly, that our schools are simply a reflection of our society, so what we see happening in our world, our schools are just a microcosm of what happens in our society at large,” Wright said. “There have been many conversations about how social media impacts society and school learning negatively.”
Social media is currently a primary source for the circulation of many school threats.
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The Little Rock School District will hold its town hall meeting to discuss current issues such as cell phone usage and its strategic plan.
A portion of the strategic plan covers safety and belonging, which Dr. Wright believes are closely tied together.
“Sometimes kids who make threats and are serious about the threats is, it’s a lot of times because they don’t feel a sense of belonging whether it’s in their school, their home, or within their community,” Wright said.
He wants to reassure the parents and community at large that they have taken “precautionary steps” to ensure the safety of the schools.
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