KCPS issues statement about threats to Kansas City metro schools

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Public Schools issued a statement on Wednesday in response to a wave of online threats hit by dozens of metro schools this week.

According to KCPS, “We take matters like these extremely seriously, and are working with local law enforcement and several other area school districts to identify the perpetrators.”

Over the last week, middle schools and high schools on both sides of the state line faced a variety of threats, most of which were on social media.

These included shootings, bombs and other direct threats to students and administration.

Several people have been arrested in connection to these incidences, including one student in the Lee’s Summit School District on Tuesday.

The district superintendent, Dr. David Buck, said the student had posted a “vague social media threat” on TikTok toward East Trails Middle School on Monday, causing local law enforcement at the FBI to get involved.

This announcement came only a day after another middle school, Eisenhower Middle School in Kansas City, Kansas, was on lockdown for a bomb threat.

The district claimed that the threat may have been part of a “prank” it had dealt with last week and that the school will have “extra support” just in case.

Also on Monday, Blue Springs High School was made aware of a threat posted on Snapchat.

According to law enforcement and school administrators, the juvenile responsible for the threats was identified and arrested. They face legal and disciplinary actions.

As for KCPS, the district said, “Our superintendent has sent a message to all our families updating them on the situation and cataloging the many safety measures employed in our district, including a robust and well-trained security unit of officers, secure double-entry entrances, high-tech cameras and equipment, and quick-acting emergency response systems. These are just a few of the heavy investments we have made in security at KCPS.”

The district continued, “As always, the safety & security of our students and staff is our top priority. We will continue to work with our security officers and local law enforcement to monitor this situation and act accordingly, while keeping a secure and safe learning environment for every single one of our students and staff members.”

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