Responding to bomb threats

Its unfortunate, but schools these days have policies on handling bomb threats. Once a bomb threat is received, school officials respond in a number of ways.

School administrators quickly work with WCPSS Security staff to evaluate the seriousness of the threat.

School officials immediately evacuate the school and alert law enforcement. Students are evacuated to designated areas, often playfields or parking lots on the school property.

Law enforcement officials typically block roadways to control traffic, not allowing vehicles onto school campuses. They investigate the information received by school officials and check school facilities. Once they give the all clear, students return to school and resume classes.

At all times, students are kept safe as school administrators work to help students remain orderly and cooperative during the incident.

Anniversaries of Columbine High School shootings in April 1999 or events such as the recent shootings at Virginia Tech on April 9 create additional anxiety or concern for students and school officials. As a result, school administrators err on the side of caution.

There were 12 bomb threats reported by Wake County schools in 2005-06, as recorded in the annual school crime and violence report published by the NC Department of Public Instruction.

School staff and emergency officials address the incidents quickly and professionally. Each incident takes time away from instruction and typically results in some anxiety for students and staff. Normally, Wake County news media do not report bomb threats understanding increased attention needlessly worries parents and provides the potential for copycat instances.

Should parents be notified of bomb threats? School officials have a variety of tools to notify parents about incidents at schools. Letters, phone messenger systems and e-mail listserve services are methods of direct communication to parents. In the case of hoax bomb threats, immediately alerting parents of a hoax bomb threat would cause needless worry and may lead parents to drive to a school where traffic control is already an issue.

Hoax bomb threats are taken seriously. WCPSS investigates each bomb threat fully and pursues hoax reports with criminal prosecution. Students involved in making hoax bomb threats face administrative action by the school system that may result in suspension for up to 365 days from school.

It is important for students to feel comfortable talking to adults about their concerns. The best means to keep schools safe is to maintain healthy and open relationships between adults and children at all times. Parents can help by emphasizing to students that they should feel comfortable in talking about situations that cause them concern. The school system’s first priority is the safety and welfare of our students and this communication is a foundational tool to keep our schools safe.

Posted by Bill Poston at 09:06 AM on May 01, 2007 | Leave Feedback

What Do You Think?

Have an opinion about this article? Let us know, using the form below.

Your Feedback: