By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
During a school board meeting Monday, the Hays superintendent and Hays school board president both apologized for the handling of a threat against Hays High School on Feb. 12.
A 14-year-old student was removed from school on the morning of Monday, Feb. 12, after police were informed about an alleged verbal threat the student made against the school.
However, the parents and the public were not informed of the threat until five days later.
Rumors swirled at the school following the students removal. The situation was complicated by a mass shooting at a Florida school on Feb. 14. Fifty students stayed home from school on Tuesday, Feb. 20 citing safety concerns.
Related story: 50 students stay home Tuesday after Hays High threat; USD 489 to discuss notification
Thissen said in a prepared statement, “It is I who could have limited the heightened fear by sending out a simple informative note on Monday or Tuesday. Florida’s tragic event on Wednesday may still have amplified concern, but at least no one in Hays would have felt that the threat was not being tended to. I am sorry for the fear and anxiety that developed due to this, and I am sorry that the board of education was subject to great negativity when they had nothing to do with it other than trusting in my judgment and performance.”
Law enforcement early on determined the threat had been contained by detaining the 14-year-old in question, Thissen said.
However, Thissen said he suspected some of those rumors spawned from the earlier questioning of students about the 14-year-old’s alleged threat. He also said rumors might have been heighten when the student in question, although in state custody awaiting placement, was still seen in the community.
The school’s attorney, building administration and Thissen met Thursday, Feb. 15 to discuss how they should proceed with the disciplinary process as the 14-year-old’s child in need of care case was being defined, Thiseen said. The group met again on Saturday morning, Feb. 17 and agreed the county attorney would release a statement on the incident.
Thissen said the Hays Police Department, judicial representatives and building administration did an amazing job throughout the process.
Bickle said he believes communication is key now and in the future.
“I, like many of you, had and still have many questions about everything that happened and how it all went down. I don’t currently have a student at Hays High, but I can tell you and assure you that I understand the frustration and concerns. You have every right to be upset. …
“The biggest thing I want to say is I am sorry. We screwed up. While I applaud John for explaining things and shouldering the brunt of the blame, this is by no means just John. We as a district failed the community on many levels—period. There are no excuses. I think we failed our students, our staff and our parents, and I want to personally apologize that we gave anyone a reason to doubt or give any reason to lose faith or trust in the district. Trust is a super easy thing to lose, but it is hard to rebuild that trust, and I think we have a road ahead of us to do that.”
Bickle said he can’t change what has happened, but he promised things would be handled differently in the future.
“We need to do everything in our power to make sure, God forbid this should happen again, that we are ready,” Bickle said, “to make sure, for a lack of a better term, that this runs smoothly—that we can do everything we can to let you know right away, like John said, this is what happened, we are getting more information, and as we know more, we will let you know more …
“Something as simple as that would have stopped a lot of the rumors, which grew and caused a lot of additional fear and unneeded angst that didn’t need to be there.”
Bickle said he hoped to further discuss what the district can do to better communicate with the public and prepare in case of a crisis.
“At the end of the day, I wanted to personally apologize to community that we as a the district failed you,” he said. “It will not happen again.”
Thissen also outlined some of the points of the district’s crisis plan.
The crisis plan was recently updated, and a summary sheet of the plan is in print form on all teachers’ desks. Two representatives from the Hays public and Hays private schools returned last week from a week-long training in PrePare, which is a program designed to organize the best strategy in dealing with any crisis.
Buildings have gone to only the front doors being unlocked throughout the school day. One elementary school and the middle school lock their front entrances during the school day. There are plans on having a ‘buzz in’ system for all school buildings. This transition might be possible this summer. Gradually, locks are being switched out throughout the district. Last year work went into having crisis bags for all classrooms.
Thissen also noted the district has an anti-bullying program and the Westside Alternative program in place to help students. The district would like to expand the Westside program, but space is an issue. A new at-risk program is being considered to help boost the district’s graduation rate.
“It is a constant process to make changes regularly that will provide greater safety for our children,” Thissen said.
Below are Superintendent John Thissen’s complete prepared comments to the board:
“On Feb. 12th early morning, the Hays Police came to Hays High to follow up on a possible threat towards the school. The student who was identified as making the threat was taken out of class and questioned. The front end of the investigation confirmed the threat and the source of the threat was contained. From the onset the boy’s family was very supportive and cooperative. The situation quickly turned into a Child in Need of Care case. The police were continuing their investigation to gather any details. Other students were questioned during that process. If I would have sent a message to parents and community on Monday or Tuesday, it would have been informative in nature and not a warning. Wednesday’s Florida tragedy effected the dynamics of our situation. The police’s earlier search for details turned into a process of tracking down rumors. I suspect some of those rumors spawned from the earlier questioning of students. Even on Feb. 21st at the Council of Superintendents in Topeka, many superintendents described rumors of threats that developed in their communities since February 14th. I’m sure it was amplified for Hays since we had an actual threat. The school’s attorney, building administration, and I met Thursday to discuss how we should proceed with the disciplinary process as the Child in Need of Care case was being defined. On Friday the 16th, a decision was made for the Chief of Police, County Attorney, and Superintendent of Schools to meet and talk on how to proceed. The meeting occurred on Saturday morning. A statement was agreed upon and released to the media by the County Attorney. Complicating the situation was the sightings of the student in the community. He was in state custody still in Hays waiting for placement. The Hays Police Department, judicial representatives, and building administration did an exceptional job throughout the process. It is I who could have limited the heightened fear by sending out a simple informative note on Monday or Tuesday. Florida’s tragic event on Wednesday may still have amplified local concern, but at least no one would have felt that the threat in Hays was not being addressed. I am sorry for the fear and anxiety that developed due to this, and I am sorry that the Board of Education was subject to great negativity when they had nothing to do with it other than trusting in my judgement and performance.
It is important for all to know that we do have an organized crisis committee that meets 3 times a year. The committee members include representatives from the fire and police department. Homeland security regularly attends. We have secretaries, principals, custodians, and food service who also attend the meetings. The crisis plan was recently updated, and a summary sheet of the plan is in print form on all teachers’ desks. Two representatives from the Hays public and Hays private schools returned last week from a week-long training in PREPaRE which is a program designed to organize the best strategy in dealing with any crisis. All buildings regularly have their fire and tornado drills. An item discussed during one of our past crisis meetings was that there is not a typical situation. A crisis situation is very complex, and a single factor may change the process in which we act. Because of this, we conduct a variety of drills including active shooter. Buildings have gone to only the front doors being unlocked throughout the school day. Actually; one elementary and the middle school has the front doors locked as well. There are plans on having a ‘buzz in’ system for all school buildings. The transition might be possible this summer. Last year, work went into having crisis bags for all classrooms. Gradually, locks are being switched out throughout the district. Perhaps the more important activities deal with training and helping students. A new at-risk program designed to increase graduation rate is being considered for next year. Anti-bullying activities have been introduced. A social worker was added to our staff last year and an added counselor is planned for this coming year. Westside Alternative School was created 25 years ago and there have been recent discussions on how to expand the program. Lack of space is one of the key obstacles. Schools in Ellis County have been given an opportunity from High Plains Mental Health to have 30 school employees trained in Mental Health 1st Aid. Focus is being placed on connecting every student to their school by participation in sports, clubs, or cocurricular activities. Engaged students are healthier students. It is a constant process to make changes so as to provide greater safety for our children.”