Vanc. schools on alert after rumor circulates online
VANCOUVER, Wash. - Parents and students of Vancouver’s Skyview High School are on edge after rumors of some sort of threat against the school circulated on social media over the weekend.
The Clark County Sheriff's Office said they spent the weekend investigating and did not find a credible threat. However, they are stepping up patrols today at Skyview and other Vancouver schools.
The school district sent a text, email and phone messages to parents over the weekend to alert them to the issue.
"Vancouver Public Schools has no other information about the rumor or the investigation at this time, and no updates are expected today,” the message read. “Questions about the investigation should be directed to the Clark County Sheriff's Office. Thank you."
On Monday, Vancouver Public Schools released the following statement regarding their security measures:
Vancouver Public Schools has strict security measures in place as standard procedure. All staff members are trained in safety procedures, and safety drills are conducted routinely at all schools and district buildings.
In light of recent events across the country and heightened concerns by parents, the district has taken additional precautionary measures. Staff members at all schools were reminded of security policies and procedures. Increased supervision and security was added at all schools for today and tomorrow, the final school days prior to winter break.
Friday, the school district sent a recorded phone message to parents of all students in Vancouver Public Schools, which stated: “In light of recent events across the country, Vancouver Public Schools is taking additional precautionary measures, including increased supervision and security, to ensure students and staff members are safe.” Letters are being sent home from schools today. Samples of the letters and advice for parents are posted on the district website at www.vansd.org.
Superintendent Steve Webb released this statement: “We were deeply saddened by the tragic news from Connecticut. We are all grieving this horrific, senseless act. Vancouver Public Schools will do all we can given our resources to reassure our children, families, staff, and community that our schools will continue to be safe places of learning and employment. As we prepare for this holiday season, I know that we will all have the families of Sandy Hook Elementary School in our thoughts.”
WA is an 'open carry' state and of course everyone that thinks anyone is carrying a firearm is on their cell to 911 - and of course we all believe what we read on the Internet, right???
I would rather the School Administration over-react and keep the students safe than not do anything and repreat Newton
High alert?
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I'm on high alert for overreacting school administrators and law enforcement.
 @Mipsfer You have no idea!! I was just a street cop and two of us used to handle what takes 10 officers and SWAT to handle now - never had to shoot anyone and never had to fight someone in those standoffs. Of course I am not a fan of the ACLU, or being politically correct that is costing taxpayers across this country millions, if not billions in excess taxes just to feel good...
We never had this problem before the internet along with facebook, twitter, etc. Â Now it seems every whacko in the world is in a contest to see how much harm they can do. Â To see how many likes or dislikes, how many hits or whatever you call them. Â We have progressed ourselves into a very unfriendly and dangerous world. Â We would be much better off if we could turn the clock back thirty or forty years. Â
The 'whackos' will use whatever medium available. 30+ years ago my high school was evacuated 3 or 4 times a year for bomb threats thhat were telephoned in.
 @bydl I went through my primary education, K-12, without having to experience an evacuation due to a bomb threat, a lockdown drill, or an actual lockdown. And really, that's how it should be.
@nonpartisan @bydl
@bydl I was going to chemeketa recently and a few things happpeened over the phone: A psycho broad from hell did'nt want to take her tests in the nursing program, so called in a bomb threat. Two different times (that I know of) using her landlords phone. Then some one reported that some dumba$-$ was going to shoot someone in the school library, they had the place, minute, the whole shmear.
 @boomer Having worked in civil service, we found out after the fact, that courthouses in the area receive as much as daily bomb threats (pre-internet and post-internet periods) but the employees working inside them were rarely told -- partially because of the screening process the police responsible for these institutions ruled little or no threat and partially because it rarely happens.Â
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If anything, the internet only makes the rumor portion of these threats spread like wildfire without actually getting down to the actual truth.
@boomer That horrible Internet, it is so evil that in less than a minute I can have a list of school shootings in the US back to 1853. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_shootings_in_the_United_States Your premise is absurd. We are better off than we were thirty or forty years ago, but life still isn't perfect.
The constant coverage of school shootings, mall and other mass killings by the media hasn't led to copycats, pranksters and outright nut-balls whatsoever. (sarcasm off)
 @Funky-Munky Ya' think?? I need my 15 seconds of fame to make the Guinness Book of Records before I die...
I just talked with the main office at Tigard High School and found out similar rumors are circulating there on social media. She said they don't consider it a threat, but the school security is on heightened alert today.
This is getting WAY out of hand now. The threats, the deadly weapon experiences, and a lack of mental health care is causing our society more harm than good.
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I hope Congress and the local Legislatures are looking hard at this from the psychological viewpoint. They really need to step it up on getting people the right help.Â
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I have to ask - Does anyone know what Obamacare does with mental healthcare??
 @washcomom It is called the DSM V that folks use to consider who is right in the head and who is wrong. Who decides? Your local officer/sheriff that gets to visit the person for the first time makes that initial decision. Then there is the 'what-if rule.' What-if no one knew about this person? Do you actually believe your local city, county, state or federal gubmint agency is going to help you?????
Perhaps if the media would quit sensationalizing the heinous acts committed across the nation, then other psychopaths wouldn't have the desire to make the headlines as well.
@wondering You know there is an Amendment to the Constitution that comes just before the one that mentions Arms right?
 @JTesla  @wondering Freedom of the press has turned into liberties of the press. I took a break from the news this weekend. Checked it last night and couldn't believe how much the story changed over a 36 hour period. For example, the Conn. shooter went from two handguns along with a rifle left in the backseat, to the very same assault weapon some are wanting to ban, and enough ammo to kill every student there that day. Maybe they should try to be a little more accurate. They could start with reliable sources, rather than anyone who opens their mouth but ''isn't authorized to comment''.
 @JTesla  @Lips Understood, Tesla. We can't blame the amendments. Only those that take them for their rights, ignoring the responsibility part. Bare arms (responsibly). Speak (the truth) freely, without embellishment.
@Lips Youâll have to excuse me Lips, Iâm mostly poking at those that see the 2nd Amendment rights as conveying an absolute guarantee regarding gun ownership yet will not apply that same line of reasoning to the other Amendments. There is a willingness to trample the 1st Amendment in order to defend the 2nd. In my view, if you desecrate one then you desecrate the other.
 @JTesla  @Lips Being held accountable for publishing false information would be a good place to start. They'd have to wait for the official word. But isn't waiting for the truth better than filling in the blanks with misinformation?
@Lips There are things that the media should do, but we are limited in the ways with which we can get them to make those changes.
@wondering yup. Humans are like lemmings. One jumps off the cliff and the rest just can't wait for their turn.