COLUMBUS – Two school districts in central Ohio faced threats this week but handled them differently, an indication of the dilemma school officials and parents face in an age when school shootings have become disturbingly common.
Officials are forced to take threats seriously while balancing safety concerns with their obligation to educate their students, something that is made difficult if schools are closed or attendance is impacted by threats that might, or might not, be real.
Hayes High School in Delaware was closed Thursday because of an investigation into a threat, according to a post on the Delaware City School district’s Facebook page.
An individual is in custody in the case.
The Delaware Police Department is actively investigating reports of threatening statements made against the school. While an individual is in custody tonight, the investigation continues. –post on Delaware City Schools Facebook page
Meanwhile, classes were held as scheduled in the Worthington schools despite threatening messages written on bathroom walls at Thomas Worthington High School and two other schools.
We cannot allow threats to consistently disrupt the school environment. Unless advised otherwise by law enforcement we will plan to hold school in Worthington each day on a regular schedule. We live in difficult times. We’re working to navigate student threats, communication of threats, and to continue to operate school in a safe and productive manner. –message from Worthington schools superintendent Trent Bowers to parents
After a message was found at the high school, superintendent Trent Bowers says two more message were found in bathroom stalls at Worthingway and Phoenix middle schools, which Bowers says were almost certainly copycats.
“Due to the current national climate regarding school shootings, these acts have caused increased anxiety and stress,” Bowers wrote in a message to parents.
Many parents of high school students elected to keep their children home from school Wednesday but attendance was closer to normal levels Thursday morning.
There was no word on whether anyone was in custody in connection with the Worthington threats but Bowers assured parents that anyone found responsible would be subject to “school discipline and will be prosecuted.”