Like other school districts across the state, this week Grayson County Schools sent home letters to parents explaining an amended Kentucky Revised Statute against anyone making threats to schools, and the punishment for breaking that law.
The recently enacted School Safety and Resiliency Act requires all school principals to inform parents of the state’s second-degree terroristic threatening law that was amended during the 2019 General Assembly legislative session.
New language in the law states that a person is guilty of committing felony second-degree terroristic threatening if a person makes a false statement by any means for the purpose of causing evacuation of a school or school-sanctioned activity, causing the cancellation of classes or school activities, or creating fear of serious bodily harm among students, parents or school personnel. The charge is a class D felony, punishable by one to five years in prison.
The terroristic threatening statute was amended in response to the 294 threats made to Kentucky schools between January 23 and April 30, 2018.
“In many of those cases, school officials and law enforcement were forced to close schools to investigate the threats made,” the school district’s letter to parents says. “In other cases, school attendance plummeted for days after the threat was made. Many school leaders have said that the emotional, instructional and financial impact of these acts are incalculable.”
Included in those 294 threats in the winter and spring of 2018 was a bomb threat to Grayson County High School, which resulted in the evacuation of students from the high school campus, and classes being cancelled for the day. Two days later, a high school student was charged with making the threat, even though the Leitchfield Police Department deemed the threat to be a “joke.”
Superintendent Doug Robinson encourages parents and caregivers to talk with their children about the serious nature of the issue.
“School should be one of the safest places on earth for any child,” Robinson said. “We have always taken all threats very seriously. False threats are disruptive and create a climate of fear that has no part in learning. While the School Safety and Resiliency Act provides additional requirements, Grayson County Schools consistently strives to ensure and enhance safety as our top priority in order to provide security and peace of mind to our students, our staff, and our families.”
(Photo: A police presence outside Grayson County High School after a bomb threat was received in February 2018)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
