HILO — The state Department of Education is encouraging parents to discuss with their children “the seriousness” of school safety threats following Wednesday’s shooting at a high school in Florida.
The DOE will send a letter home with Hawaii Island students Tuesday that reminds parents all schools are required to create and update a safety plan and conduct five emergency preparedness drills per year, which include lockdown exercises.
Big Island schools posted the letter online Friday, which was a no-school “Institute Day” for those schools. Monday is Presidents Day, which is a DOE holiday.
“Across the country, school districts are dealing with rumors or threats against school safety that is spread via social media … (the DOE) is no exception,” said the letter, signed by Superintendent Christina Kishimoto. “When a school administrator becomes aware of a threat, police are immediately notified and an investigation is launched.”
The department also partners with county police departments to conduct active-shooter drills, the letter said. The DOE considers terroristic threats to be Class A student conduct offenses, which can result in penalties ranging from detention to dismissal and the possibility of arrest and criminal charges.
The school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida on Wednesday killed at least 17 people. It has reignited a national debate surrounding school safety and gun control.
Kapolei Middle School in Honolulu began school in lockdown on Friday following a shooting threat made on social media. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported the threat was posted on Instagram by someone who said they planned to “shoot up” the school at 8:30 a.m. Friday.
School officials were notified of the threat Thursday night and reported it to police. Parents also were told before school started Friday there would be increased security and police presence.
The lockdown was lifted by 9:30 a.m. Friday.
State lawmakers are considering a school safety bill this year that would require interior locks and intercom systems be installed on all classroom doors.
The measure, filed as Senate Bill 2576, was introduced prior to Thursday’s shooting. It would mandate each school have an emergency management plan updated yearly and require emergency preparedness training for teachers and staff. It also would require emergency practice drills at every school, some of which would need to occur during “inopportune times of the school day.”
Kishimoto said in written testimony the DOE supports the measure’s intent but requests it be deferred. She said the DOE is already conducting “vulnerability assessments, surveying schools and determining need” and “the bill is not needed at this time.”
The measure passed a second reading Thursday and was referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Email Kirsten Johnson at kjohnson@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.