Jackson schools reopen with heightened security after Friday's social media threat

Jackson School District students returned to school Monday, Sept. 16, with an increased security presence after classes were canceled Friday, Sept. 13, because of a threat of violence that was posted on social media.

The Jackson Police Department announced Saturday, Sept. 14, it had located the source of the threat, and determined it wasn’t credible. More information was unavailable because the incident involves a juvenile.

Superintendent Scott Smith communicated to families that they “will likely notice an increase in law enforcement at our buildings as well as our safety teams.” Additionally, the district will have counselors available for students who need to talk with someone about the situation.

“Safety is our top priority,” Smith said in the email. “As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns. We are in this together!”

Smith’s email declared that Jackson schools and the Jackson Police Department have a “zero-tolerance policy for threats.”

“Please help us emphasize to all students that making threats against a public school, whether it occurs on social media, in conversation or in any other format, has serious legal and disciplinary consequences,” Smith said. “As a district, we will process all incidents according to our school policies and with support from the Jackson Police Department.”

In his communication with families, Smith also emphasized the importance of immediately reporting any threats seen online to school staff or police. The district recommends not forwarding or reposting any threats, as it can slow down investigations and make it more difficult to find the original source. Instead, Smith suggests taking a screenshot of the threat and sharing it directly with school administrators and law enforcement.

Smith also thanked the district’s parents and guardians for working with the district, and encouraged them to keep track of their students’ online activity.

“We can’t do this alone,” Smith said. “Please be aware of your child’s phones, devices and ultimately their hearts and minds. We must all work together to maintain a safe school environment.”