Grant Parish, LA (9/12/2024) – A 13-year-old student at Grant Junior High was taken into custody this morning after allegedly making a threat to shoot at the school around 9:15 a.m. The Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office (GPSO) reported the incident, stating the student is being charged with terrorizing. The investigation is ongoing.
Parents expressed concerns over the school system’s communication regarding the incident. One parent posted on GPSO’s social media, “We want more accurate information on what all happened! Y’all can’t just post stuff like this without giving us more information!”
The school board sent out a text message to parents at 7:49 a.m., well before the threat was made. This caused confusion among parents, with some questioning whether the school was withholding information. Another parent commented, “How are we supposed to feel our kids are safe when different information is given and the text from the school board doesn’t match the new information?”
Parents are calling for better communication and transparency from the school system during emergencies. Many argue that parents should receive real-time updates, including a breakdown of events, while ensuring the students’ safety is the top priority.
What Schools Should Do to Improve Communication
This incident highlights a growing issue for schools: effective communication with parents during emergencies. School systems (Grant Junior High) should prioritize timely and consistent messaging when incidents like this occur. Text alerts must be clear and reflect current events to prevent confusion and anxiety.
Improving communication between schools and parents is essential to ensuring trust and transparency during a crisis. Schools should consider adopting new methods like real-time app notifications or email alerts that provide a more detailed account of events. Parents should not be left in the dark, especially when their children’s safety is at stake.
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