Local districts partner to address rising number of school threats

Districts across Central Texas have seen an uptick in student-made violent threats against schools since the start of the school year, according to Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura.

AISD is one of several Austin-metro school districts that have had students arrested for making threats.

District officials, in partnership with Bastrop, Del Valle, Eanes, Hutto, Lockhart, Manor, Pflugerville and Round Rock ISDs, held a press conference Sept. 20 to address these threats and provide information for parents and students on the subsequent consequences and mental health impacts.

Explained

According to Travis County District Attorney José Garza, there are at least 30 cases pending in the DA office related to these threats.

AISD Police Chief Wayne Sneed said that all threats, whether they are legitimate or rumors from social media, will be investigated and pursued until it’s no longer a threat, regardless of what time of day they occur.

“Don't be surprised if you get a visit from your local law enforcement agency,” Sneed said. “This is not an option. It's a guarantee we will be at your door. This is a standard protocol—protocols we carry out regardless of a child's age. We all know children have unique ways of expressing their frustrations and how they joke. This can get them in a lot of trouble.”

Garza said the threshold for arresting a student is a legal standard that applies to both adults and juveniles. If there is probable cause to believe they committed a crime, he said, they will be arrested.

The juvenile arrest process, however, differs. After a juvenile is detained:

• A detention hearing is held where a judge ensures there is evidence of probable cause
• The risk to the community is assessed
• A determination is made as to whether or not they should remain detained

“Our entire juvenile justice system was designed by our legislature to rehabilitate young people; to give young people their full opportunity to succeed and thrive,” Garza said. “We are of course going to be balancing the safety of our community [and] the safety of our school communities, in particular with the long-term impacts of involvement with our juvenile justice system on those young people.”

The impact

Sneed said law enforcement agencies are working through the late hours to investigate these threats, which puts a weight on their resources.

The process also involves officers having to expend overtime, Segura said.

“We are desperately trying to maintain all of our budgets,” Segura said. “Many of us are running deficit budgets at this moment, and so this additional cost is something that isn't budgeted for. But we have to ensure that our officers are paid to do this very important work.”

Discussions about violence can also create feelings of fear, anxiety and uncertainty for students, AISD mental health professional Amanda Toohey said.

“Social media often amplifies these emotions as threats or rumors are often shared quickly and widely, making it feel overwhelming for students in the community,” Toohey said.

Toohey recommended that:

• Students utilize their school’s counseling support
• Parents and caregivers openly discuss these issues and encourage their children to express their feelings and thoughts
• Any concerns seen or heard be reported to a trusted adult immediately

Officials have also asked parents to play an active role in talking to their children about how to responsibly use their social media accounts, as well as what is appropriate for them to say or joke about, whether they are in a school setting or not.