Dear Families,

I am writing to address a serious and sensitive issue that affects all of us, and one that is critical that we come together as a community to resolve. School districts across the city, state, and nation, including San Antonio ISD, are being impacted by non-credible threats of violence. We are all experiencing an increased number of threats, both verbal and online, made by students against their school communities. Even when made as a prank, these threats carry felony criminal charges. And, a heightened sense of fear disrupts our ability to focus on what truly matters: learning and helping your children reach their fullest potential.

As you can imagine, these threats create significant anxiety for everyone. Families are understandably concerned about sending their children to school, while staff and students feel uneasy about their safety when they hear of such threats. We understand that the tragic school shooting in Georgia has reawakened the pain and anxiety we all feel when this senseless violence occurs in our schools. Some students may be acting out of anxiety, but making threats only leads to more anxiety and severe consequences, including criminal charges. Please know that legal action will be taken when these incidents occur.

Let’s help our children not make life-altering mistakes.

It is important that your children know that our police officers work collaboratively with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Even if a post is deleted, it can still be recovered by law enforcement. All threats are taken seriously and will be dealt with following applicable laws. 

We call on you to work with us. Please monitor your children’s social media activity and engage them in conversations about the serious consequences of making threats. Additionally, as a reminder, no weapons of any kind are allowed on school or district property. Do not allow your child to bring anything to school that is a weapon or gives the appearance of being a weapon, even if it is a toy.

We encourage all members of the community to report threats directly to law enforcement, rather than sharing unsubstantiated rumors through social media. Students and parents can make reports through our free, 24/7 K-12 Anonymous Reporting system.

We have these types of conversations at school, and when these efforts are reinforced with conversations at home, we can help our students make the wisest choices.

One of our top priorities is to provide a positive and safe learning environment for all students and staff. We also believe that safety and security is everyone’s responsibility. We want your partnership and vigilance in keeping our campuses safe. Thank you for your support.

In service,
Jaime Aquino, Ph.D.
Superintendent