Local School Districts Watch Developments On L.A. School Threat
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – School officials in South Florida are keeping a close eye on developments in Los Angeles after the nation's second largest school district was shut down Tuesday after a safety threat.
A statement released by Broward Public Schools reads: "The safety and security of students and staff are always our highest priorities. Broward School Police, in partnership with local police agencies, is monitoring the events in the Los Angeles Unified School District. While no threats to Broward County Public Schools have been received, we are taking extra precautions to ensure the safety or our schools. There are currently no changes to our normal operations."
CBS4 News also reached out to Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
The statement reads: "In light of the disturbing news of possible hoaxes involving threats to school districts in Los Angeles and New York, we must recognize that risk awareness, vigilance, and preparedness—not fear—are realities in our communities and in our schools. While we have received no threats, the safety and security of our students and staff continue to be our number one priority. Miami-Dade Schools Police continues to monitor the situation, and our school day is proceeding as normal."
Sam Oyon, parent of a student at Coral Gables Senior High, came to pick up his son after learning of the threats in Los Angeles and New York.
"I'm coming and picking up my kid. I don't even let him take the bus today because I don't know if something's going to happen," said Oyon. "Nobody's sure right now. Nobody knows what's going to happen."
In Los Angeles, the school district took the rare move of cancelling classes and closing all of its more than 900 schools after receiving a credible threat that referred to backpacks and other packages. The District's superintendent also asked that all schools be searched.
According to a law enforcement official, the threat was emailed to a school board member and appeared to come from overseas.
District Superintendent Ramon Cortines says the threat was against students, not just a single campus. He says the schools commonly get threats but called this one rare.
Cortines says he ordered the shutdown out of an abundance of caution after the Dec. 2 attack in nearby San Bernardino that left 14 people dead.