To our Kennedale Community,
Kennedale ISD is aware of social media posts circulating threats against various campuses in our area. While districts across the state are experiencing similar posts, KISD continues to work with local law enforcement to investigate each threat we are made aware of. “Over the last few days, there have been many school districts around the state that have received reports of social media posts and emails indicating they are the target of violence or that they appear on a list of schools targeted.” Chief of School Safety and Security, Texas Education Agency.
Parents, we understand your heightened concerns and your desire to ensure your child’s safety. Please know that safety is our top priority, and we take these claims very seriously. By law, we inform parents when threats are made but please understand just because we report that a threat was made does not mean the threat was substantiated. Although no claims have been deemed credible, we ask our community to remain vigilant. If you come across any threatening posts, please report them to your campus immediately so that an investigation can begin, and appropriate safety measures can be taken. Once informed, the principal will initiate the investigation process with the Director of School Safety and Discipline and local law enforcement.
Students, please practice online safety and report any threatening posts or statements immediately to your parent, teacher, counselor, or your principal. The sooner we are aware of a potential situation, the sooner we can begin our investigation with local law enforcement.
A current trend in our society is “swatting” or making fictitious reports of impending danger to schools to see the reaction it causes. These “swatting” reports have been happening all over the country and are even being generated by people in other states from where the reports are happening. It is unfortunate that individuals feel the need to do this, especially with the severity that the reports create.
Remember, threats of any kind are taken very seriously and can have serious consequences both legally and at school. Parents, we also ask that you speak to your students about the severity of making false reports and the consequences that come with doing so. If your child is found responsible for a threatening post or statement, they could face legal charges and they will be assigned to the district’s alternative education program, or even expelled from their campus.
We thank you for partnering with Kennedale ISD to help maintain a safe learning environment for all students.
Dr. Chad Gee
Superintendent
Kennedale ISD
