Hallsville School District notifies parents of threat investigation

The Hallsville School District investigated a possible threat towards students last week.

ABC 17 News obtained a letter sent from Superintendent John Downs to families at Hallsville Middle School.

The letter said the district learned late last week that a middle school student made threats toward other students. After investigating, administrators determined there was no credible threat, Downs said.

“The safety of our students and staff is always our first priority. We take any threat to the well being of our schools seriously,” Downs said. “We have done so in this case and will continue to be diligent in the future.”The letter also asked parents to remind students to report anything they might see or hear to an adult.

More than a dozen parents attended the Hallsville Board of Education meeting Monday night voicing concern about how the district handled the threats.

A Hallsville Middle School parent, Crystal, who requested her last name not be released, said she’s upset the district didn’t notify parents sooner.

“We actually learned about this threat Friday from our children,” Crystal said.

Parents said the student who allegedly made the threats was in school Monday, but the district would not confirm this information to ABC 17 News.

Some families said they’re considering pulling their children from class.

“Parents are pulling their children out of school because their children are being threatened,” Crystal said. “They do not feel safe.”

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