‘It’s a huge challenge’; parents, educators react to statewide school threats

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - A disturbing trend is impacting our region as violent threats have been flooding schools across our area.

In Cabell County alone, Huntington East Middle School, Huntington Middle School and Huntington High School all recieved online threats during the last week according to Cabell County Schools.

Wednesday, WSAZ spoke with the West Virginia Department of Education who said similar threats have been popping up around the state.

This trend involves messages threatening violence, some on specific schools, and some only naming a county.

Huntington Middle School Principal Justina White says ensuring students safety is priority number one.

“From the school setting, we are ensuring the perimeter is safe and that our school is safe. So, if we determine there any issues while our students are in the building, we immediately have a protocol that we follow through, whether it be a lockdown, lockout or barricade, we actually earlier this week just practiced that so our staff and students are well prepared for anything,” White said.

Parents of children in the school system say it’s difficult explaining to their young ones what is happening.

“When we talk to my son, who is in sixth grade here, safety is paramount to everything we do, because without safety we can’t help them learn. When we have those conversations sometimes the most difficult things as parents and educators and even community members is we don’t have all the answers. We can’t tell them exactly what is going to happen. It’s a huge challenge,” Assistant Principal Gabe McKee said.

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