By Moses Leos III
Hays CISD officials and Hays County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers (SRO) are investigating a possible threat involving clowns, similar to a social media hoax that’s happening across the country, which may have been made against Lehman High.
Tim Savoy, Hays CISD public information officer, said in an emailed response the district sent out a letter regarding the issue after a “rumor there may have been a post about Lehman High School from a clown.” Savoy said the post had been taken down.
“We have no reason, at this time, to believe that there is any credible threat to the safety of students or staff members, even if a clown threat was posted,” Tim Savoy Hays CISD public information officer, said in a letter. “However, safety and security are paramount, so we are investigating the matter.”
Savoy said district officials and Superintendent Michael McKie were made aware of the hoax earlier in the week.
The hoax, which has spread on social media and the Internet, involves people posing as “scary clowns” and making threats against schools, Savoy said. Several schools in the Austin area have received such threats, with the hoax also taking place in Alabama and the Carolinas.
According to a report from the New York Times, 12 people have been arrested in multiple states involving a similar hoax.
“Threatening schools is a serious and criminal matter, even if a person posting on social media thinks it is only a joke,” Savoy said.
Savoy said the district is taking the matter seriously and will continue to investigate.
“We’re aware that it’s a trending thing on social media,” Savoy said. “We’re keeping an eye on it.”
Below is the letter sent to parents from Hays CISD
Dear Hays CISD Parents,
An internet and social media hoax has been circulating nationally regarding threats, in some form or another, against schools by clowns. Today, several schools in the Austin area received such threats. This is similar to clown threats against schools in the southeastern states of Alabama and the Carolinas in the past several weeks.
Our SRO sheriff’s deputies and school administrators are currently investigating whether a similar threat has been made to Lehman High School in Hays CISD. We have no reason, at this time, to believe that there is any credible threat to the safety of students or staff members, even if a clown threat was posted. However, safety and security are paramount, so we are investigating the matter.
Several people nationally have been arrested in recent weeks for making false clown threats and they face serious consequences. Threatening schools is a serious and criminal matter, even if a person posting on social media thinks it is only a joke.
Know that we are always on guard to protect the safety of students and adults at our schools. It has not been necessary to make any operational changes today, but I wanted you to be aware of this situation.
Sincerely,
Tim Savoy
Public Information Officer
