El Dorado School District provides update on social media threat

UPDATE (09/03/2024): The El Dorado School District shared an update on Facebook regarding the alarming post they discovered yesterday. Following an investigation by the El Dorado Police Department, it was determined that the post does not appear to be credible and originated from out of state.

The El Dorado School District went on to say that the safety of their students and staff is a top priority, and they will continue to work closely with local law enforcement to ensure a secure learning environment.

EL DORADO, Ark. (KTVE/KARD) — A threat was made Monday night via social media towards Barton Junior High School. The EL Dorado Police Department was notified, and they began working to figure out what was going on. Security was on campus this morning as well as a group of men that were across the street. The community made sure to protect the students today. KTVE/KARD spoke with superintendent Jim Tucker about this situation.

So we received a threat that was pointed towards a certain school in EL Dorado School District that was posted on social media yesterday evening. Immediately reached out to EL Dorado to police department, worked with them for the entire evening and night. They responded to it quickly. They took it very seriously. And we do as well.

Jim Tucker

There is a strict system in place inside every school in the EL Dorado School District. It is there to ensure that the right people can get in and out. Mr. Tucker is confident in their ability to protect.

We have a system; it’s called open gate weapon detection system. We have it at every campus in the district. We use it at sporting events. A couple of years ago, we installed bullet resistant glass at every entrance in the district. We have access control to all 300 outside doors in the district. They lock automatically. I can open them, unlock them, lock them with my phone. Administrators can do the same. So people cannot get in that building via a door. We have a commissioner school security officers in the district. We have actually 19 of those in the district. They are plain clothed, concealed carry security officers by Arkansas State police.

Jim Tucker

EL Dorado School District promises to always focus on the safety of the students and staff. Superintendent Tucker has a word for parents.

One thing I would like parents to know that if a situation ever like this happens again, we will notify the public. Our media director, Scarlett, will reach out with text, reach out with mass communication. We’ll post it on social media and we will try to answer every question we can. But our number one priority is safety, and that’s what we’re going to keep our focus on. And we want to be transparent.

Jim Tucker

There was also a group of concerned parents and members of the community who have been meeting together to start the semester with prayer for the students and staff. Community Prayer Warriors is the name they have been given. They are focused on being the heart of change. The goal is to be active and protect the community the only way they know how…. Prayer.

As of right now, no threat has reached campus. An investigation is ongoing to determine who the suspect is. Until then, security will continue to monitor the campus.