FLORISSANT, Mo. – Schools across the St. Louis area are dealing with threats, in the wake of the mass shooting in Florida.
On Wednesday, a threatening note was found inside a boys’ restroom at Hazelwood Northwest Middle School. The principal sent an email to parents, alerting them of the incident. The email also included a picture of the threatening note, which said “blown into shatters.”
But, parents said they heard the news from their kids first.
“She said 'mom, there was a note in the boys’ bathroom' and she said 'I'm scared, I want to come home.'" said Tianna Davis, a parent of a student.
She picked up her daughter in the middle of the school day.
“If something's going on, I'm not going to take the chance and hope it doesn't happen. If something like that is happening, I'll come and get her every day if I have to,” she said.
Florissant police investigated and found the threat not be credible. School administrators said the threats are becoming difficult to manage.
“It's very disruptive and it expends a lot resources,” said Hazelwood Communications Director Kimberly McKenzie. “We owe it to our parents so that they know what's going on in their schools, especially when it's concerning the safety of their students. We want to be transparent. We want to be accurate. At the same time, we're contending with our students who are on social media.”
In turn, McKenzie said she wants parents to help schools by talking to their kids and explaining the seriousness of the threats. Each time a threat is made, police investigate. Students who make the threats also face punishment.
“If they can help us at home with talking to their children, checking their backpacks, checking their room to make sure they're not bringing anything to school that they shouldn't be bringing,” McKenzie said.
