A Hart High School student confessed after a threat to the school was found Friday afternoon written inside a campus restroom, Principal Jason d’Autremont informed parents via email Monday.
School officials were notified by a student that a message had been scrawled on a bathroom stall, and administrators contacted the school’s resource officer, prompting a full investigation from Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials, according to Dave Caldwell, public information officer with the William S. Hart Union High School District.
“The student indicated they were being bullied and were talking about doing something about it,” Caldwell said of the message, adding that it identified a particular individual, whose parents were notified and are fully aware of the situation.
While the threat mentioned the date Wednesday, Sept. 29, the school remained open Monday and was set to remain open through the remainder of the week with an expanded sheriff’s presence in the area out of an abundance of caution.
However, d’Autremont sent an email update to parents Monday after a student confessed to writing the message, with law enforcement officials reportedly determining that there never was a “genuine threat to the safety of our campus.”
Safety remains the district’s top priority, with Caldwell highlighting the student care line available to students, encouraging them, “If you see something say something.”
“A student saw something, was concerned and mentioned it to a trusted adult,” Caldwell said. “In a situation like this, someone is in need of help, and (the system helps), we are able to make certain they get that help.”
“There are logical consequences that arise from the choice to cause such alarm through a false threat of violence. We will be enforcing appropriate discipline and we know law enforcement will do so as well,” d’Autremont said in the email.
However, d’Autremont encouraged students to avoid perpetuating bullying or spreading angry or inflammatory comments online about the situation.
“Respectfully, I can share that the rumors that flow from these types of things are often worse than the incidents themselves,” d’Autremont added.
The student care line is available to students via [email protected] and 661-373-1822.
