MANSFIELD — Mansfield City Schools Supt. Stan Jefferson urged students and parents to be alert and report potential dangers after a student was arrested for threats against the high school this week.
“It is essential that we all play a role in ensuring our schools remain safe places for learning,” Jefferson said.
“I urge you to take time to remind your child that they should tell an adult if they hear about the possibility of a threat at or near school. Saying something when you see something truly makes a difference.”
Those words came from a letter sent out by Jefferson on Tuesday after a high school student was arrested by local police.
The 15-year-old boy had made a “hit list” involving individuals at Mansfield Senior High School, according to Capt. Randy Carver of the Mansfield Police Department.
School officials became aware of the list after school ended Tuesday and promptly contacted police, according to Jefferson’s letter to families.
“We take all potential threats against our schools seriously,” Jefferson wrote. “Any communication of a threat immediately activates our safety protocols.”
According to Carver, the student was charged with making terroristic threats, a third degree felony, and is now incarcerated.
Carver said police department will conduct a follow-up investigation into the matter and thanked the individuals who reported the threat.
Additional law enforcement were present at the middle and high school building Wednesday “out of an abundance of caution.”
The building went into a soft lockdown on Thursday “to further investigate safety-related social media posts,” according to a letter sent to parents and guardians.
According to the letter, local law enforcement was notified and confirmed that there was no credible threat.
A Mansfield Police Department report from Thursday stated that an administrator contacted law enforcement about a social media post “about a list” posted by a former student.
Police attempted to contact the 18-year-old female, who was listed as a suspect in the report, but were unable to do so.
Calls to the Mansfield Police Department were unreturned at the time of publication.
Jefferson declined to speak further on the matter, citing an ongoing investigation by the Mansfield Police Department.
“I am unable to provide further details on this time,” he said via a statement.
“We remain committed to the safety and well-being of our students and staff and we appreciate your understanding as the investigation process.”
Also on Thursday, the Mansfield Middle School and Senior High building was evacuated due to odors reported by staff and students. The Mansfield Fire Department responded and cleared the building for re-entry.
Madison Middle School student arrested after making a threat this week
Mansfield isn’t the only district dealing with threats this week.
A 13-year-old boy was arrested and charged with inducing panic on Wednesday after threatening to “shoot up” Madison Middle School via an anonymous email. That student is also incarcerated in the Richland County Juvenile Detention Facility.
“The safety of our students and our staff is our highest priority,” Madison Supt. Rob Peterson said. “Anytime there’s any kind of safety concerns like this, we take it very seriously. We do not tolerate these things.”
Further coverage
These incidents reflect what appears to be a wider trend impacting multiple states, just a week and a half after four people were killed during a school shooting in Georgia.
In Ashland County, Ashland City Schools received calls from concerned parents earlier this week regarding screenshots of a threat. Local law enforcement determined the threat was made towards a school district in Ashland, Ky.
“Ashland City Schools and Ashland Police Department have looked into this and there is no substantiated information, evidence, or threat to any Ashland City School facility, students, or staff members,” Supt. Steve Paramore said in an automated message to families.
“We will remain vigilant to keep Ashland City Schools safe today and everyday.”
Local CBS news station WOWK reported a 12-year-old girl was arrested in Lawrence County, Ohio, in connection to the threat.
News outlets from several states have reported on recent school threats in the wake of a school shooting in Winder, Ga., last week.
WXIA-TV, an NBC affiliate station in Atlanta, reported more than 30 teens across north Georgia have been charged with making threats in the week and a half since the shooting.
Similar threats have cropped up from students in Florida and Texas, according to USA Today.
Sweat said it’s frustrating to see the trauma and uncertainty these threats include on students and parents.
“It’s shameful,” he said. “Unfortunately, these come in waves and it seems that once one happens, we get many more in a cluster. That’s unfortunate because I think one plants the seed for the next.”
