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Dr. Rachel Hazel, Troup County Schools Superintendent, called a joint press conference with local law enforcement agencies at LaGrange High School on Wednesday night to address this week’s school shooting threats. 

On Monday afternoon a social media post threatening to shoot up a list of Troup County schools circulated online. While the investigation into the threat is still ongoing, an arrest of a 15-year-old juvenile was made. The child, a local student, was charged with 11 counts of terroristic threats. 

“Last week we watched our worst fears unfold in Barrow County…Since last week our own School family has been impacted by four separate threats of violence against our schools,” Hazel said. 

She continued, “Each [threat] was responded to by law enforcement and investigated and 3 of those 4 were resolved within the hour. The fourth threat is still under investigation however it has been determined that it is safe to resume to normal school activities,” Hazel said. 

Hazel, along with representatives from the Troup County Sheriff’s Office and the police departments of LaGrange, West Point, and Hogansville, took the stage to discuss the incident and answer questions from the audience. The press conference preceded the TCSS town hall discussion Hazel was leading. 

“These [threats] are going around nationwide…we take all of these very very serious. We don’t pass it off as a joke or a rumor,” said Stewart Smith, public information officer for the sheriff’s office. 

Chief Garrett Fiveash of the LaGrange Police Department said that in order to investigate every threat thoroughly, digging through social media to find the original poster is necessary. Because of this, he discouraged members of the public, especially kids, from reposting, commenting and engaging with these posts. By sending it directly to law enforcement it shortens the time it takes to follow these leads. Fiveash added that citizens can anonymously text information to LPD through the app Tip411. 

As for the credibility of the threats, Fiveash said the first three threats were quickly investigated and found to be not credible. He said if they feel there is any danger or if an investigation is taking some time, law enforcement gets in contact with the schools to lock down. 

Hazel also encouraged parents to use School Status, the primary online platform TCSS uses to communicate with parents. A couple of parents in the audience asked what to do if there is a lockdown or active shooter incident at their child’s school. 

Hazel responded by saying that if the school is locked down while the child is on their way they should be taken back home. However, if there is no lockdown then they can come in as usual. Law enforcement asked that parents not come to the school during a lockdown so that their resources could be focused on the school. All those on stage reiterated that communication would get out as quickly as possible on platforms like School Status, email, or social media. 

The Superintendent spoke about some of the current security measures currently in place including metal detectors in secondary schools, a check-in system at the primary schools, an “Expectation that doors exterior and interior are locked at all times,” and School Resource Officers doing regular checks to make sure the doors are locked.

Staff are issued CENTEGIX Badges. These are used to notify administrators, SROs and law enforcement of the exact location of emergencies. The same badges were used during the shooting in Winder, according to Hazel, which allowed SROs to immediately begin the search.

Multiple speakers on stage Wednesday implored parents and community members to say something if they see something suspicious or worrisome. 

A member of the crowd asked if the school system is considering arming staff members. Hazel responded by saying, “No, we utilize our School Resource Officers for that.”

Sheriff James Woodruff added that arming staff makes their jobs harder in the event of an emergency. He said having more armed individuals during situations like school shootings makes it more difficult to identify who the threat is. 

Woodruff added that kids need to understand the seriousness of these threats. 

“It is very serious,” he said. “I don’t think they realize that until they are in custody…Once we come and arrest them and realize how serious the charges are, it is too late then.”

Fiveash echoed this by asking parents to “get into [their kids’] business,” and see what is on their phones and what they are looking at on social media. 

With the rise of school shootings and threats across the country, school systems have had to adapt. 

Zac Steele explained that Georgia law requires every school to develop a safety plan. Local law enforcement agencies must sign off on that plan before it is submitted to the state. 

TCSS Director of Safety Andrew Calhoun said the system will be releasing more information on safety soon and will continue to explore more safety measures for the campuses.  

“These are not conversations we want to have with our children, and it is not conversations we want to have with each other, but they are very necessary conversations,” Hazel said. “Please help us by having frank conversations with your child about the seriousness of posting online or spreading rumors about school violence.”