MIAMI, FL — Miami-Dade Schools chief Alberto M. Carvalho confirmed Tuesday that the district has received a total of 47 threats to public schools since the beginning of the school year in August, including one this week that left some children fearing for their safety at Young Men’s Prep Academy in Miami.
“Parents, I urge you to continue to speak to your children about the consequences of posting messages of a threatening nature or that can disrupt the educational environment,” said Carvalho in a plea to Florida’s largest school district and the fourth largest in the United States.
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There have been a rash of threats to Florida schools since a gunman walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in nearby Parkland, Florida last February and opened fire, killing 17 students and faculty members.
In Polk County, Florida Kathleen High School officials confirmed that they also received a threat Tuesday. “All students and staff are safe,” said school officials. “Earlier this afternoon, a threat was called in to Kathleen High. Law enforcement responded and are conducting an investigation. Additional law enforcement is still on campus. Again, all students and staff are safe.”
Of the 47 threats to Miami-Dade schools, nine have resulted in arrests, according to Carvalho, including one earlier in the day.
News reports said the latest threat involved a student who allegedly color-coded yearbook pictures with yellow, green and red symbols to denote potential victims and survivors.
“In recent weeks, the school district has been barraged by social media threats most of which have been non-credible,” said Carvalho. “Hoax and prank threats of any kind targeting schools makes balancing school safety and classroom instruction difficult.”
The superintendent said that the community has an obligation to encourage everyone, “especially children,” to use social media responsibly.
“The consequences of doing otherwise can be detrimental to a child’s future,” he stressed.
Some threats have been verbal but others were written. District officials said it takes three working days to investigate each threat whether they are credible or not.
“Simpler cases can be resolved over an eight-hour period with one detective, while others can take more than 40 hours and require several detectives and the involvement of external police and criminal justice agencies,” district officials explained.
Some cases require close collaboration with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office or with the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Homeland Security Bureau.
“Often times detectives and command staff personnel are required to work after hours, some on overtime,” officials explained.
“School safety is our number one priority,” added Miami-Dade Schools Police Chief Edwin Lopez. “Our police force will investigate every threat, including threats that turn out to be pranks.”
He said that it is a federal crime to threaten a school. Such charges carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Earlier this year, Miami-Dade School Board members approved an item endorsing the FBI’s Education Awareness Campaign,#ThinkBeforeYouPost.
To report suspicious activity involving a Miami-Dade County school, call 305-995-COPS or contact the FBI via tips.fbi.gov or by calling 800-CALL-FBI.
Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho by Paul Scicchitano
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