Image Credit: Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office / Facebook & Jefferson County Schools / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By David Seal] –
Jefferson County parents woke up to a media release from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department on its social media page announcing that a school shooting threat was determined to be a hoax. The post was made at approximately 11 PM on Monday.
Their media release is as follows.
“On Monday, September 9, 2024 School Administrators and SRO’s have been investigating the threat of possible school shooting that would occur at two Jefferson County Schools tomorrow September 10th. The threat was observed on the social media platform Tik Toc. Chief Tim Carter of the School Safety Division and Special Agent Cliff Thompson of the Tennessee Department of Homeland Security located the source of the post around 9:00 pm this afternoon. Their investigation revealed that the entire threat was fabricated by a juvenile a deemed a hoax. The findings will be forwarded to School Administrators and the Attorney General’s Office. Jefferson County Schools and the Sheriff’s Office will always take all threats seriously and investigate them to the fullest.” – Jefferson County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Department
Concerned parents are asking lots of questions, namely what local schools were threatened, if any arrest has been made, and where the threat originated. So far, the school system has not made a media release, depending entirely on the Jefferson County sheriff to release information.
According to the barrage of questions from concerned parents on the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department social media page, parents are asking about potential school closures and law enforcement response.
The Tennessee Conservative requested to be placed on the Jefferson County Schools media release list and to be provided with the number of students that were counted as absent on September 10, 2024. But school officials are being tight-lipped about absentees and concerned parents are openly discussing keeping their kids home.
As several parents expressed on the sheriff’s department media post, it is the lack of information that adds to parent anxiety about sending their kids to school. Many are discussing homeschool options.
In response to our request to be placed on the media release list and for data on the number of student absences for 9/10/24, the director of Jefferson County Schools responded as follows:
“I will consider your request to be added to media outlets that would receive information and press releases. Do you have an official from the company you listed, Tennessee Conservative News, that can send me official documentation for this request. We did not issue a press release to media outlets as the Sheriff did on the investigation. You are welcome to submit a records request to Ronda Sparks for the students absent information for September 10 that you have requested.” – said Dr. Tommy Arnold, Director of Jefferson County Schools
The Tennessee Conservative followed up with an official letter, sent by the publication’s media coordinator requesting to be added to the media list and for the previously requested information to be relayed.
Dr. Arnold replied in part, “If David Seal wants the absent student information, he needs to do a records request for that information.”
On the eve of 9-11, in the wake of a recent school shooting in Georgia, and with multiple juveniles being charged with copycat threats across the region, parents are on edge and looking for answers to relieve their concerns.
Follow-up reports will be made as information becomes available.
About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and current Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level. David is also a 2024 winner of The Tennessee Conservative Flame Award. David can be reached at david@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
