Texas school district receiving ‘persistent, pervasive’ threats before graduation
Crystal City Independent School District, about 39 miles south of Uvalde, has implemented safety precautions to its graduation ceremony after receiving persistent and pervasive threats, according to a news release from the district.
The district announced the new safety measures on its Facebook page Thursday evening, May 26, stating the ceremonies remain scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 27. However, no bags, purses, cases, backpacks, and other like items will be allowed. The district isn’t allowing noise makers and firecrackers as well.
Additionally, the district isn’t allowing pictures after the ceremony. It advises families to arrive a few minutes early to capture as many memories as possible prior to the commencement of the ceremonies. The district plans to have a heavy amount of law enforcement at the ceremony.
Carrizo Springs CISD, another district not far from Uvalde, announced on Thursday that it has canceled school for the remainder of the school year out of an abundance of caution to keeping its schools safe. The last day of school was slated to be on Friday.
The Carrizo Springs High School graduation ceremonies for the senior class of 2022, however, will continue as planned at Frank Carter Stadium beginning at 8 p.m. MySA.com has reached out to the district on any safety measures being placed at the ceremony. The district is 50 miles south of Uvalde.
The threats and school cancellations come after a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday, May 24. Other districts across Texas have been investigating threats as well.
On Wednesday, May 25, Donna Independent School District announced on its Facebook page that it has decided to close all schools in light of recent school threats and out of an abundance of caution. The district, which is in the Rio Grande Valley area near McAllen, stated the safety of its staff and students are its main priority. According to The Monitor, an AK-47 and a list of targeted students were found by law enforcement officers in the home of one of the suspects.
In San Antonio, Northside Independent School District is investigating a threat made via social media toward one of its campuses on Wednesday. The district said it’s aware of a photo circulating on Instagram of someone threatening the students at Sul Ross Middle School at 3630 Callaghan Road.
