Education
Multiple students across 12 Austin metro school districts have been arrested and charged with felonies for making non- credible school threats since the start of the 2024-25 school year. The threats have impacted attendance rates and student mental health at many campuses. In response, districts are upping security measures, creating student threat awareness campaigns and more. The influx of threats is likely a result of “copycat behaviors” following the Sept. 4 shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia, said Andrew Fernandez, San Marcos CISD chief of communications. Districts grapple with noncredible threat surge
The cost
The impact
On Sept. 24, SMCISD received a non-credible school threat through an anonymous phone call that triggered over 80 police, fire and emergency service personnel to respond. “The media has created a high profile when reporting these threats which leads to an increase,” Fernandez said. In neighboring district Hays CISD, six students have been arrested and charged with various felony offenses for creating threats against campuses so far this year. HCISD Chief Communication Officer Tim Savoy said these threats typically result in a 5-10% drop in attendance for the day. Texas school districts are funded based on average daily attendance. Each total percentage drop in ADA for the school year equates to about $1.5 million in funding loss, Savoy said, which “would make a mark” on the budget if the threats are sustained. Following a non-credible threat at Emile Elementary in Bastrop ISD Sept. 16, the board of trustees requested a low-attendance day state waiver after the district’s attendance rate dropped to 82.3% on Sept. 17. The waiver allows for the instructional day to be excused from ADA funding calculations. Two non-credible threats in Lake Travis ISD also impacted attendance, Superintendent Paul Norton said, noting a significant drop at the affected campuses. The threats also negatively impact the community’s trust with the district, he said. “We have kids that don’t come to school for several days because of a threat that was called in,” Norton said.
Investigating threats puts a weight on a police department’s resources, said Austin ISD Police Chief Wayne Sneed during a school threats press conference Sept. 20. There were over 300 threat investigations in AISD last school year. “One particular case I can remember started at midnight and it did not end until 7 a.m. by the time they tracked down all the leads and figured it out,” Sneed said. In addition to increased emergency response costs, districts are also grappling with how these threats affect the mental health of students, staff and the community. Fernandez said counselor visits have increased in SMCISD, but the impact these threats have extend beyond students. “The thought of sending a child to school and an act of targeted violence occurring is a lot for parents to process,” Fernandez said. While discussions about violence can cre- ate feelings of fear and anxiety for students, addressing it head on can reduce stigma and “promote a culture of safety and support,” said AISD mental health professional Amanda Toohey during the press conference.
Student-made school violence threats in Hays CISD
10
6
Mental health tips after a threat
5
5
4
3
Utilize school counseling support
1
Express thoughts and feelings to a trusted adult
Immediately report concerning behavior you see or hear
*AS OF OCT. 8
SOURCE: HAYS CISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: AMANDA TOOHEY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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