Kentucky school districts on high alert after surge of statewide threats

KENTUCKY ( FOX 56 ) — School districts across the state are now on high alert following a surge of threats in multiple counties this week, including Anderson, Boyle, and Marion.

“We live in an age where you can’t take threats lightly, and that also means you can’t make threats lightly,” said Sam Wade, Jessamine County High School school resource officer.

Some schools even prompted evacuations and cancellations. FOX 56 talked to school officials throughout the state who said it is alarming to see so many school threats pop up in such a short time, but they said that’s why active communication amongst law enforcement agencies and school systems is crucial.

“With the shooting that occurred in Georgia, as tragic as it was, and then us having a shooting in Laurel County so close to home, I think you have some bad actors that like to piggyback and try to see as much panic and chaos that they can cause,” said Wade.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

• Several Fayette County schools receive grants to fund arts showcasing kindness
• The Caleb Conley Foundation looks back on impactful first year
• Louisville will not host Sundance Festival, Cincinnati still in the running

Kentucky school leaders say every threat is taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.

“Even if a student says we were joking, it was not really a threat, we’re going to treat every threat seriously and we’re going to turn it over to local law enforcement to deal with,” said Kim Adkins, the director of student services for Hardin County Schools.

“When we come across something like this, if a threat has been made and we can track it back to who made that threat or someone trying to cause panic with those threats, then we do follow up with charges.”

Adkins, who leads school safety efforts in Hardin County, said it is imperative to teach children from a young age about the weight behind their words.

“We talk to them about what terroristic threats are and how it will be handled by local law enforcement. We send information out to the parents on how to talk to their students about that.”

Adkins also encourages parents to monitor their children’s electronic devices because she said threatening messages are often posted to social media.

She also said school resource officers remain on high alert in schools and within the community.

“So, any time they hear something or see something out in the community that could potentially blend over into the school district, they try to get in front of that to investigate any threat.”

“We are there to do our best to make schools safer and to do everything we can to make sure students are protected,” added Wade.

He noted that Jessamine County Schools will be sending a letter home to parents following the threats made in other districts this week to highlight the importance of cooperation and communication with law enforcement if incidents like this do pop up.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.