Sumner County Schools is the latest district taking extra measures to warn parents about the growing problem of school threats in Tennessee.¶
The district recently sent parents a letter signed by Superintendent Scott Langford, Juvenile Court Judge David Howard, Sheriff Eric Craddock, and District Attorney General Lawrence Whitley that outlines the punishment for making threats of mass violence at schools and school-related activities.¶
The letter says Sumner County Schools have been “inundated with threats of violence” to schools and school community much like other communities. It says those making threats will be subject to school disciplinary actions and criminal charges.¶
“Pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann § 39-16-517(d), all members of our community are required to report any threat of mass violence towards any school grounds or any school related activities, regardless of the seriousness of the threat. There will be zero tolerance for these types of threats in our community, regardless of whether the juvenile has immediate means to carry out such a threat or is just ‘joking.” Every threat will be treated with the same scrutiny,” wrote county leaders in the letter.¶
County leaders said any student who is charged with threatening violence on school property or school-related activities will be expelled for at least one calendar year.¶
The district is asking parents to talk to their children about the issue and the potential consequences for making threats.¶
“Our community needs to work together to ensure the safety of our children. We are strongly urging all parents and guardians to please speak with your child about this issue, and the administrative and criminal consequences that could result from such actions,” wrote county leaders in the letter. “All parents and guardians in our community should have a discussion with their child about what is appropriate to say to their peers and school staff. Using violent and threatening language with other students and/or school staff will be met with severe law enforcement and school disciplinary consequences.”¶
Sumner County’s actions follow similar stands against school threats by other districts.¶
The Rutherford County School Board recently passed a resolution asking the DA to continue criminally prosecuting students who make threats, following the arrest of two students in September. That same month Williamson County Schools sent an email to parents to debunk a false school threat students were spreading.¶
In West Tennessee, Shelby County authorities arrested several students, including one from Nashville, on charges of making school threats on social media, while in Knoxville, parents spoke out about school safety at this month’s school board meeting.¶
