WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Leaders from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools and law enforcement officials held a joint press conference on Thursday afternoon to address school safety and security measures.
WS/FCS Superintendent Tricia McManus was joined by members from the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies.
In Forsyth County, the district said several schools saw less students in class on Wednesday. Concerned parents called their children's schools to ensure it was safe to bring them to class.
"Our commitment to families is that every threat that comes in, whether its reported to law enforcement or the district or the Say Something App, every single one of those [threats] is investigated to the fullest," said WS/FCS Superintendent Tracia McManus.
The district said it partnered with law enforcement - namely the FBI- to investigate the most recent threats on its schools. It's also implemented the use of randomized metal detectors and it's new weapons detection system program.
The district's superintendent assures all parents will be alerted of threats made to its schools once information is available.
McManus stressed that sharing posts online does more harm than good.
"What we do not want our students to do is repost threats. That is happening a lot on social media. Folks are reposting threats," said McManus.
Even Guilford and Alamance Counties told us they always take threats seriously. Several districts in North Carolina have dealt with threats recently that were found to not be credible.
In Guilford County, the district posted about the threats statewide. In a post, officials wrote, "Students who convey threats of any kind will receive school and legal consequences. To help prevent the spread of misinformation, please only share information that you can personally verify."
The Alamance-Burlington School System echoed this sentiment, saying it will continue to focus on creating a safe learning environment for students.
Like many school districts across the state, we heard false reports of school threats. We take every report seriously and work closely with our law enforcement partners to assess and investigate any concerns, we’re grateful that they found no evidence to support the rumors. We understand that hearing about potential threats on campus, even as rumors, can be very unsettling. If there is a credible or real threat, we will promptly inform our families and take appropriate measures to ensure everyone’s safety. Our focus remains on ensuring a safe and secure environment for learning, and we appreciate our community's trust and support. -Alamance-Burlington School System