The two Dallas ISD schools targeted by last night’s terroristic threat reported that no unusual incidents happened during the school day today.
District and city officials had said earlier in the day that the terroristic threat made via email against Pinkston High School and Eladio Martinez Learning Center was found to not be credible. As a result, Dallas ISD held classes today as scheduled.
“I commend the staff and students at the two schools for focusing today on the school work and not getting caught up in any potential distractions,” Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said. “We will continue to work closely with law enforcement as the investigation continues.”
Earlier in the morning, Hinojosa said that, at approximately 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dallas ISD received a terroristic threat similar to those received by Los Angeles Unified School District and New York Public Schools earlier this week. The district also learned that the same or similar email was sent to staff at Houston ISD and Miami Public Schools.
Thanks to a collaborative effort between the City of Dallas, City Manager A.C. Gonzalez, Mayor Mike Rawlings, the Dallas ISD Police Department, Dallas Police Department, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, officers were able to determine that there was no credible threat.
“I want to thank everyone who has dropped everything they were doing over the past 12 hours to focus on this very important matter,” Hinojosa said at the morning news conference. “It was a privilege to see so many people from across the district and city step up to respond to this threat.”
Dallas ISD Police Chief Craig Miller provided details on the investigation of the threat. By 11:20 p.m. last night, officers were sweeping the schools with bomb-sniffing dogs. Miller said a thorough investigation determined the schools were safe, and he thanked his counterparts in the Dallas Police Department and Joint Terrorism Task Force for their invaluable assistance.
Dallas Police Chief David Brown said an investigation is ongoing into the source of the threat against the schools. Meanwhile, the Dallas Police Department is providing officers for extra patrols and Dallas ISD police officers will continue to have an increased presence in and around campuses this week.
“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our kids, and we will do everything we can to provide safe learning environments to them and our staff,” Miller added.
In his remarks, Mayor Mike Rawlings said while the city and school district will take every threat seriously, Dallas as a city would not be scared.
“It’s important to know that the teams worked together and we are a safe city this morning,” he said. “But we will make sure we are vigilant, and these (police officers) will work overtime in our schools and throughout the city to take things seriously and make sure we continue to be safe.”
Meanwhile, the threats against Houston ISD and Miami Public Schools were also found to not be credible. The two school districts also held classes today as scheduled.
“I applaud the speed and prudence that the Dallas Independent School District and other Great City Schools showed in the face of threatening emails they received last night,” said Michael Casserly, executive director of Great City Schools, the nation’s primary coalition of large urban public school systems. “School authorities responded quickly and thoroughly with law enforcement in Dallas and other cities. The nation’s big city school systems have been coordinating all night to ensure the safety of our children, and will remain open.”
