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Local law enforcement officers were called out to be on duty at both
the high school and middle school on Tuesday after several students
received text messages on Monday, warning them to stay away from the
schools the next day. The messages said some shootings would take place
at the schools on Tuesday.
"These were very disturbing messages," said Deputy School
Superintendent Larry Clark, who said he got calls from several parents
late Monday about the messages their children had received during the
day. Clark said he contacted School Superintendent Paul Stapleton and
the two administrators decided to call Halifax County Commonwealth's
Attorney Kim White, seeking additional police protection for the
students on Tuesday. White said she spent some three hours on the
telephone Monday evening, arranging to have added law enforcement at
the schools the next day.
When students began arriving Tuesday morning around 7:45 they found
extra police officers walking throughout both schools. The officers
remained for much of the day, with forces added during lunch break and
after school.
"While we did not want to over react, we had to take these messages
very seriously in light of what has happened in other areas," Clark
said. "It is extremely disturbing to parents and students, as well as
teachers and administrators." He praised the cooperation given by the
Commonwealth's Attorney, as well as local law enforcement officers. "We
are striving to have a secure, safe environment for all our students,"
Clark said. "We cannot take any of these recent incidents lightly
although it has put a strain on everyone from teachers and
administrators, parents and students to local law enforcement."
White says she and school officials have talked about ways to put a
stop to the disruptions that have caused loss of classroom time over
the past week. "I am asking the School Board to look at its Code of
Conduct and to see where we can limit access to all this instant
messaging." And she noted that with the help of local law enforcement
personnel, she expects to make a recommendation at the January meeting
of the School Board for stricter oversight of cell phones and instant
messaging.
Last week's bomb threats, with which a 17 year old 11th grader has been
charged, are felony counts and carry a penalty of five years in prison,
she added.