HARKER HEIGHTS, Texas — The Killeen Independent School District will hold a meeting Thursday with parents on internet safety and threats toward schools.
This school year, there have been a total of 11 threats so far, which lead to 10 arrests, according to Terry Abbott the chief of communications at KISD.
Abbott said there has been an increase in threats made by students in Killeen schools over the past few years.
Threats made by students
2018-2019: 11 threats and 10 arrests
2017-2018: 32 threats, 14 arrests, two suspensions, and five unfounded
2016-2017: 15 threats, eight arrests, and three suspensions
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According to Abbott, 22 of the threats in the 2017-2018 school year happened after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Killeen ISD Police Chief Ralph Disher said those are called copycat threats and there are consequences for their actions.
Consequences for making threats against a school
Chief Disher said when a terroristic threat is made against an individual it's considered a misdemeanor. When the threat is made against a school, it becomes a felony.
"Kids need to know the consequences," Disher said. "I think sometimes they think by saying that we have a bomb, or that we're going to shoot up a school, that it's funny and they don't understand that there are serious consequences for it that could follow them throughout their entire life."
Protecting your children
At the meeting with parents, they'll also talk about cyberbullying and how to prevent kids from becoming victims of online sexual predators.
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"Too many times we allow the phones to be the parents and parents need to be more involved," Chief Disher said.
The presentation will include teaching parents about social media apps like Instagram and Snapchat as well as lesser-known apps, such as Musical.ly and TikTok.
The meeting will take place at the Harker Heights High School auditorium at 6 p.m. Then district officials will hold several meetings with students the week of March 25-29.
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