Jeri Skrocki, chief safety and security officer, and Chief Communication Officer Tim Savoy provided the board of trustees with updates on the district’s safety and security initiatives during the regular board meeting Sept. 24.
Some context
As of Sept. 20, six HCISD students ranging from ages 11 to 15 have been arrested and charged with various felony offenses for creating threats against HCISD campuses this school year, according to district officials.
While investigations ultimately revealed the threats did not put any campuses in danger, Skrocki said they are becoming “increasingly catastrophic” for the community.
“It is disheartening to say the least that the community itself—our teachers, our staff, our parents—are all overwhelmed by these horrific type of activities that are indicating a serious threat to our physical safety, whether it’s a joke or, ‘I wanted to see what would happen,’” Skrocki said.
What’s being done
HCISD is rolling out a “threat regret” campaign which will consist of posters, videos and other communication pieces posted around the secondary campuses to inform students on the consequences of making these threats.
Savoy said the district has experienced threats like this in the past, but what stands out about these threats is that they are coming from students as young as sixth grade.
“We said, ‘surely they know the seriousness of this,’ and then we thought, ‘maybe they don’t,’” Savoy said. “We know they’re not watching the news, so they’re not seeing all of the cases around the area where people are getting arrested.”
As such, the campaign will be focused at the middle schools, but will also be implemented at the high school level.
Skrocki also encouraged community members to be a reporter, not a reposter.
“It is imperative that you are reporting these crimes and not just going to social media or forwarding things as a reposter,” Skrocki said. “... Every time you repost [a threat], we are losing valuable time and information.”
Did you know?
HCISD’s safety and security department offers a variety of ways to anonymously report a crime or other safety issues such as bullying, harassment or a mental health crisis through:Something to note
HCISD is not the only district experiencing these threats. Just a few hours before the Sept. 24 board meeting, the nearby San Marcos Police Department responded to an anonymous phone call that a gunman was seen at San Marcos High School. The threat was ultimately deemed noncredible but triggered dozens of police, fire and emergency service personnel to respond.
Austin ISD and eight other Austin metro district officials also held a press conference Sept. 20 to address threats being made in their districts, as well as the legal consequences and impact they are having on student mental health.
