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The Maui News
An anonymous threat scrawled in graffiti in an Iao Intermediate School bathroom prompted a call to Maui police last week, according to a letter sent to parents on Friday.
In a letter addressed to parents and guardians, Iao Principal Matt Dillon said a student made the threat.
Officials were investigating the incident as a terroristic threat, and a Maui police officer would remain on campus "as a safety precaution," Dillon said.
"All threats to our school or students are taken very seriously and are investigated thoroughly," he said, noting that such threats are considered a Class A student conduct offense.
"Penalties can range from detention to dismissal with the possibility of arrest and serious criminal charges," Dillon said. "We wanted you to be informed of this incident so you can discuss with your child and emphasize the seriousness of this issue. If you discover anything that can assist in the investigation, please contact us immediately."
A concerned resident called The Maui News Wednesday morning to say Iao school parents were upset about a report of a student who had threatened to bring a loaded gun to school. Requests for comment on that specific threat to Dillon were referred to the state Department of Education Communications Office.
Responding on behalf of Dillon, DOE media specialist Lindsay Chambers referred questions about the specific threat to the Maui Police Department, which did not immediately respond to a request for information from The Maui News.
"We don't want to share anything that might jeopardize their investigation," Chambers said.
In a follow-up email to parents and guardians sent Wednesday, Dillon told them the school is reviewing procedures for lockdowns and was conducting additional safety drills with students. And, he said, school officials were continuing to work with the Police Department "to communicate and respond to incidents that may present a danger to our school."
"We all want the same thing: a safe place to learn," he said.
In the email, Dillon reported that "teachers have received live-shooter training with MPD."
"In Homeroom and Advisory classes, teachers are working with students to improve their awareness, responsiveness and understanding of school safety issues," he said.
Also, "students are being provided guidance on their important role in campus security and will be taking a 'See Something, Say Something' pledge," Dillon told parents and guardians. "Students have been provided an electronic reporting form, and, in the fourth quarter, we will be launching a 'Text to Tip' system. Both of these systems will allow students to report safely concerns to our administration and police in a confidential manner."
He reported that counselor and teacher teams are improving ways to identify and support students who "demonstrate behavioral concerns, such as social withdrawal, negative talk and emotional problems."
Also Wednesday, the school's website had a "breaking news" posting titled "Addressing School Safety." It reported that school staff "takes swift action to address safety concerns when they are brought to our attention by students, parents and community members."
When asked whether last week's threat prompted the school safety posting, Chambers said that the announcement did not refer to any threat, "but rather is a reminder to parents and students to report any suspicious activity/threats, as well as safety measures the school takes to keep the campus secure."
Information about any possible student disciplinary action could not be disclosed, Chambers said.
When asked if some students were afraid to come to school after the threat, she said that in the days following reports of the incident, school attendance was at 88 percent or higher. On Wednesday, attendance was at 91 percent, she said.
She said officials didn't want to speculate about the reasons behind the absences because there wasn't much of a change before or after the threat.
According to the school's website, about 920 students are enrolled in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades.
Nationally, communities have been on edge over fears of copycat school shootings in the wake of the Feb. 14 mass shooting that killed 17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. There were reports of 16 threat incidents in Arizona, mostly in Phoenix; and others in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; Ravalli County, Mont.; and the Ramona Unified School District northeast of San Diego.