The Rutherford County Schools Board of Education passed a resolution Tuesday asking the Rutherford County District Attorney’s Office to continue criminally prosecuting students and others who make threats of mass violence against schools.¶
According to the resolution, the Board of Education “urges the District Attorney for Rutherford County to prosecute students and individuals making threats involving schools to the full extent allowed at law, including, but not limited to criminal penalties and incarceration.” It added that these penalties would be in addition to the loss of driver’s license privileges by students and individuals making such threats.¶
Board attorney Jeff Reed said the purpose of the resolution is to place more emphasis on the “full prosecution of any person who makes mass threats of violence against the school system.” He noted that the district has over 50,000 students and the disruption of school results in the loss of valuable instructional time, which can cost the county “millions of dollars.” The resolution was passed with little discussion from the board.¶
The move comes after two students were arrested last month in connection to threats against schools, according to a recent video message to parents on social media from Rutherford County Schools Director Dr. Jimmy Sullivan. He said at that time, the district had seen about 20 verbal and social media threats targeting schools since the beginning of the current school year.¶
Sullivan added that in a majority of these cases, students amplified those threats by spreading unsubstantiated online rumors.¶
“Parents, we are asking for your help. Please talk to your children about the severe consequences of making threats, even if it’s intended to be a joke or prank. Please encourage them to think before posting or to report any concerning behavior they see online,” Sullivan said in that video message.¶
“Some [students] even recorded selfie videos to further spread the rumors, even though they knew they had no direct knowledge or proof and unfortunately, those students had to be disciplined as well.”¶
The district also encouraged parents and students to download the STOPit App to report threats or concerns about school violence, which has also been a major concern for other districts across the state in recent weeks. As in Rutherford County, the issue has been compounded by students in other districts sharing rumors of potential school shootings on social media.¶
Last month, Williamson County Schools sent parents an email to debunk claims of a “school threat” list. In addition, threats against schools in Memphis-Shelby County Schools led to a districtwide lockdown and several arrests, including a Nashville teenager.¶
