Authorities Address School Safety Concerns and Parents Welcome Their Response
By: Marlisa Goldsmith
Updated: December 18, 2012
"I know parents are fearful and they're wanting to know what the school system is going to do," says Becky Casey.
Representatives from Abilene ISD, Wylie ISD and Abilene Police Department held a news conference on Tuesday to address the concerns.
APD says the original posts have been deleted and there is no validity to the rumors.
"Either way it's still scary I kind of don't know how to feel especially with what just happened," says Leslie Paredez.
These rumored threats come less than a week after a crazed gunman entered an elementary school in Newton, Connecticut and shot 26 people, including several children.
Another parent, Tiffany Perez says, "There's a lot of wackos out there, especially with this whole Mayan thing and then the thing last Friday, it scares me. I mean i dropped my son off at school on Monday and i was near tears thinking there's going to be copycats out there."
This sort of fear is common.
"You know, fear is just fear until it comes into reality and if it does, we say in retrospect, we should have done something," says Tracy Fleet.
Fleet is a licensed professional counselor at Life Renovations. He explains how rumors that surface on social networking sites have the ability to spread both the message as well as fear.
"If there is a rumor of a fear, you have to take it seriously. No matter what, you have to take it seriously because of that worst case scenario," Fleet adds.
Many parents are grateful for the community's response, because they would much rather be safe than sorry.
Abilene patrol officers will be present at every Abilene ISD and Wylie ISD campus on Friday, December 21, 2012.
Representatives from Abilene ISD, Wylie ISD and Abilene Police Department held a news conference on Tuesday to address the concerns.
APD says the original posts have been deleted and there is no validity to the rumors.
"Either way it's still scary I kind of don't know how to feel especially with what just happened," says Leslie Paredez.
These rumored threats come less than a week after a crazed gunman entered an elementary school in Newton, Connecticut and shot 26 people, including several children.
Another parent, Tiffany Perez says, "There's a lot of wackos out there, especially with this whole Mayan thing and then the thing last Friday, it scares me. I mean i dropped my son off at school on Monday and i was near tears thinking there's going to be copycats out there."
This sort of fear is common.
"You know, fear is just fear until it comes into reality and if it does, we say in retrospect, we should have done something," says Tracy Fleet.
Fleet is a licensed professional counselor at Life Renovations. He explains how rumors that surface on social networking sites have the ability to spread both the message as well as fear.
"If there is a rumor of a fear, you have to take it seriously. No matter what, you have to take it seriously because of that worst case scenario," Fleet adds.
Many parents are grateful for the community's response, because they would much rather be safe than sorry.
Abilene patrol officers will be present at every Abilene ISD and Wylie ISD campus on Friday, December 21, 2012.
