Louisville-area schools on high alert this week after verbal, social media threats

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- At least four schools in the Louisville area have taken steps to heighten security after receiving verbal threats as well as threats on social media.

The following schools received threats:

Olmstead Academy North
Eastern High School
Kammerer Middle School
Jeffersontown Elementary School

The principals at each school sent messages to parents letting them know about the threats and that steps were being taken to increase security at each school Tuesday:

Olmsted Academy North

The message dated Sept. 9 from Olmsted Academy North Principal Gerard Garrett said "JCPS Police alerted us to a social media threat against our school. We immediately began working with police to investigate. We are following all of our safety protocols including heightening our building security."

In an updated message to parents, Garrett said "JCPS Police determined the post was made by a student," and the student will be charged and disciplined in accordance with the Student Support and Behavior Intervention Handbook.

Eastern High School

According to a message dated Sept. 9 to parents from Eastern High School Principal Dr. Heather Orman, JCPS Police and Louisville Metro Police officers were asked to investigate after a threatening voicemail message was received over the weekend. The threat was not substantiated, and the school was cleared for normal operations.

Kammerer Middle School

A message to parents dated Sept. 10 from Kammerer Middle School Principal Shannon Corrigan indicated "a verbal threat a student made against our school. As we work with JCPS Police to investigate, we will have additional officers on campus today."

The message went on to say that the school was contacting the student's parents/guardians, and that student will be disciplined in accordance with the Student Support and Behavior Intervention Handbook.

Jeffersontown Elementary School

Jeffersontown Elementary Principal Brooke Schilling sent a message to parents dated Sept. 9 after she said "one of our students made a threat against our school to their entire class." The message continued:

"It is JCPS policy to take any threat seriously. We are following our protocols to assess the threat, contact the child’s parent/guardian and discipline the student in accordance with the Student Support and Behavior Intervention Handbook."

Schilling also urged parents to talk to their children about the consequences of their statements, even if they're made in jest.

"Even if a student claims they are 'just joking around,' we must take what they say or write at face value and follow the appropriate policy for dealing with a potential threat," she wrote.

CLICK HERE to read the full the messages sent to parents in their entirety.

The threats come the same week that two other districts in Kentucky were on heightened alert after receiving similar threats. The Marion County School district canceled classes Monday after a violent threat was made against the high school. A 16-year-old was arrested and charged with terroristic threatening in that case.

Also on Monday, Hardin County officials determined that a threat against TK Stoner Middle School wasn't credible, but brought in extra security anyway. Police arrested and charged a juvenile with terroristic threatening within 12 hours after receiving the initial report, according to a news release.

The threats at local schools have been especially concerning in the wake of a shooting at a Georgia high school last week that left two students and two teachers dead.

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