“SLHS Parents and Families,
I know the last week has been a difficult one for our students, staff, and families as we have dealt with three separate threat incidents due to writing in the bathroom stalls. In two of the cases we were able to go into our ‘soft’ lockdown, where we kept the students in the classroom while we searched backpacks and students classroom by classroom. In both cases there were no weapons found or any other indication that students were in any danger, and the building was able to be reopened.
In the situation today the message was written in the upper A wing bathroom, and the message read “SLHS is getting bombed.” We evacuated the building following our drill protocols. The students waited outside until law enforcement deemed the building was safe for reentry at 11:40am. Students were outside in the stadium for approximately 2 hours. In all three cases the students, staff and law enforcement are to be commended. Obviously one case is too many, and three incidents in a week is certainly unfair to our students, staff, and community. I absolutely don’t think this reflects on our student body or school culture; this is simply a very small number of students causing havoc on the school day.
In light of the previous incidents, we had increased our supervision of the bathrooms, both with administration and hall monitors, and closed the commons bathrooms. We also continue to employ our sign out system in the classrooms. Clearly these measures were not enough, and these threats have to stop. As of this afternoon, the upstairs bathrooms are no longer open (both boys and girls). The lower A wing, B wing, and G wing bathrooms will remain open, and monitored the entire time school is in session. There will be a hall monitor or supervisor outside of those bathrooms, checking the bathroom before and after each passing time, and monitoring the bathrooms throughout the hour as well. We will continue with this practice until further notice. Again, it is a shame that we have to put these measures into place, but unfortunately the actions of a few can cause unnecessary consequences for everyone.
We are currently investigating the threat that occurred today, as well as the threats earlier this week. We are working in collaboration with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department, and will continue to work with them as we utilize every possible avenue to determine who has written these threats in the bathroom stalls. We have shared our information with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, and they are utilizing the tools at their disposal, including handwriting analysis and fingerprints taken from the scene. We will continue to update you as information becomes available, and I can assure you that anyone guilty of writing the threat, or withholding information from administration or law enforcement regarding the threat, will be held accountable by both the South Lyon School District and by law enforcement.
Probable Legal Consequences
Students may be taken out in handcuffs and placed in Children’s Village (families pay $300 a day for a student to be there) while investigation is completed and waiting for a court hearing.
Student and family’s property is subject to being searched and/or confiscated.
The court does not view these threats as harmless teenage pranks and the consequences of these actions can be harsh and life altering.
A student who makes any threat of violence will have to go in front of the South Lyon Board of Education to be considered for expulsion from the district.
A student making a threat can be charged with a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
A student making a threat with the intention of acting on it can be charged with a felony punishable by up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.
A student making a terrorist threat can be charged with a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.
A student can be charged as an adult even if they are under 18 years old for making a threat of school violence at the prosecutor's request. The judge has the final decision on whether or not that request is granted.
Our administration team is meeting with the students by grade tomorrow to review these new guidelines regarding bathroom use, as well as review the situations over the past week. Our counseling department has also put together some talking points to help guide your discussions with your children. Talking Points Again, this is so disappointing as it genuinely doesn’t represent our student body, our community, or our values and ideals at South Lyon. This is a great building with an incredible group of students and staff, and it saddens me that we are having to address these issues that are absolutely not representative of our students.
If you have any other questions or concerns or any additional information to share, please feel free to call or email me. Once again, this is an unfortunate, unprecedented situation that we are dealing with, and while we will always put the safety and well-being of our students at the forefront, it is important to remember that no weapons or any other dangerous devices have been found on our students or in the building, and none of these threats have in any way been confirmed to be legitimate.
Thank you for your continued support.”
Jim Brennan, Nov. 3, 2022
