High school resumes daily activity after alleged threat

With Westlake High School posting only 60 percent student attendance on Sept. 22 after a potential threat was made Sept. 21 by a student, attendance was back to expectations the following day, Eanes ISD Director of Communications Claudia McWhorter said. WHS reported 96 percent attendance Sept. 23, which is average attendance for a Friday.

“While attendance was lower than average, for those students who were [at WHS on Sept. 22], the day progressed normally,” EISD Superintendent Tom Leonard said in an email to parents.

He said the student who allegedly made the threat on social media would not return to school until authorities “have fully assessed all aspects of the situation” and authorities are confident that students and staff are safe.

“We only had one threat [Sept. 21],” she said. “There were a lot of rumors, but those were not true.”

Although some students were picked up early from school, McWhorter said it was because students felt it was a slow day, not because of any additional dangers.

She said the district is continuing its investigation and “covering all areas” of the threat, but WHS is expected to operate as usual moving forward.

“I can tell you that after reviewing this situation, I believe that we are doing all we can to ensure the safety of our campus,” Principal Steve Ramsey said in an email to parents a week following the alleged threat.