Schools are supposed to be safe learning grounds for children. But parents of Massachusetts students are increasingly wary, given the alarming rate of bomb threats schools are getting these days.
Boston Herald reports that dozens of schools in Massachusetts have been receiving numerous bomb threats since April. According to 22 News, Massachusetts is now the state with the most number of hoax bomb threats with around 135 in total for last school year.
Last April, after 32 schools in Massachusetts received a bomb threat in just a day, the state police released a statement. "The response to the threats is being handled, variously, by local police and fire departments, the State Police Bomb Squad, State Police patrols and K9 units, and the office of the State Fire Marshal. The threats are being tracked by State Police at the Commonwealth Fusion Center. For each threat, a risk assessment is performed and authorities are responding accordingly," the statement read as published by Boston Patch.
This is exactly what happens when a school receives bomb threats on a regular school day. Students and staff are asked to evacuate, authorities from different offices are deployed for danger response and brings along with them their tools for investigation of a possible bombing.
There was never any dangerous explosives found. However, according to Sgt. William Qualls, this affects the whole community (via Boston Herald). It creates a fear among students and parents whether they could still regard school as a safe place for their stay.
As per Boston Herald, school administrators in Massachusetts are being trained to assess threats and to know their next course of action in response to the bomb threat. It has always been a choice for schools and police officials to either have people evacuated or call in the bomb squad.
What can authorities do to further stop bomb threats and assure parents of their children's safety in Massachusetts' schools? Sound off your thoughts in the Comments section and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates.
