MISD addresses school threats
Mineola school officials dealt with two threats to campus safety last week, as well as misinformation concerning the incidents.
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MISD addresses school threats
Mineola school officials dealt with two threats to campus safety last week, as well as misinformation concerning the incidents.
The first was reported Thursday concerning what was termed a “broad threat” made on a church bus Wednesday evening concerning the middle school campus.
“As required by law, a Behavioral Threat Assessment was conducted to investigate the student and these comments,” Superintendent Cody Mize said in a public posting. “The student was searched and no firearms, magazines or other harmful objects were found. The campus was never placed on lockdown during the day or in any other emergency status. The incident continued to be under investigation through the end of the day.”
Then early Friday a parent made a report to Mineola police concerning a threat made to their child. The student remained home at the request of the middle school administration.
Mineola police served an arrest warrant for a juvenile for threats of violence Friday at 11:40 a.m. The suspect was handed over to county juvenile authorities.
Mize noted, “During a situation like this, factual information is critical. There were many things shared on social media today that were absolutely incorrect and added to panic and fear.”
He also added that “School safety is the most important thing that we do prior to educating children at Mineola ISD. We are very fortunate to have our very own Mineola ISD Police Department with three officers in the department. We also have a highly trained team of individuals that carry firearms on our campus. When the campuses are closed and everyone else is at home, this team is training. They love your/our kids so much that they willingly stepped forward to take on this assignment. You will never know who they are, but they are there, quietly protecting our kids, faculty, staff and parents on the campuses and at school events throughout the district.”
He welcomed anyone with questions or concerns about these incidents or school safety in general to meet with him.
“We are always trying to find ways to continue to improve,” Mize said.
