Albuquerque public schools will no longer discuss threats that prove to be false, saying in an email to parents, “If you don’t hear from us, assume that it is safe to go to school as usual.”
Parents are having mixed emotions about the new policy. “If it is a hoax, I still think that the parents should be involved and notified for it,” Mark Johnson, a middle school parent told KOB 4.
Tony Hillerman Middle School principal Michelle Armijo emailed parents Tuesday morning informing them of an unfounded school threat made on social media. Parents said they appreciated getting the information and knowing the threat was false. “I was relieved to get it, to know that it was a hoax because I heard earlier that something was going on, but there wasn’t a lockdown, so I was relieved,” Kathleen Leiting, a parent at the middle school, told KOB 4.
“I appreciated that the principal did take the time to notify us, and to let us know that these hoaxes are occurring,” fellow parent Tiffany Notman added.
But the email also said, “APS will no longer discuss threats that are determined to be false.” In the email, the principal said, “Non-credible threats can be disruptive and upsetting,” per KOB 4.
Johnson said he would like to know either way. “I think it’s not right,” he said. “I think we just be notified whether it’s a hoax or not because you never know. You never know if it’s going to be a hoax. You never know if it’s going to be a real thing.”
The email suggested, “If you don’t hear from us, assume that it is safe to go to school as usual.” The school also advised parents to discuss with their children the dangers of making false threats. Anyone caught making a false threat can face suspension, expulsion, and criminal charges.