Connecticut Superintendents to Meet on Student Safety

Following several school threats across Connecticut over the last few days, superintendents statewide are meeting at 11 a.m. at East Hartford High School to discuss students’ safety and call on leaders to act and help stop this chain of incidents from continuing. With these events on the heels of the shooting in Florida, police and parents are on high alert. 

Students at Sheehan High School were welcomed by extra police officers Thursday morning. 

Police said an inappropriate message was written on a classroom white board at the school. 

They said it wasn’t a credible threat, but stepped up their presence because the message contained what they call “alarming content.” 

Barbara Marek, whose youngest son attends Sheehan, said it’s “not a bad idea, I just don’t want our schools being turned into armed camps.” 

As police continue their investigation, parents told NBC Connecticut several teens stayed home Thursday out of safety precautions. 

“If they’re waking up and feeling really scared that day, then perhaps it would be a good idea to stay home. But, it’s also important to carry on with life and not let these things hold you down,” Cori Zuppardi said. 

Barbara Marek, a Boy Scouts leader, said they’ve taken the time to talk about school safety as a troop. 

“A lot of the younger boys, especially the ones in junior high going into high school, are very nervous about these sorts of incidents going on,” Marek said. 

In the past few days, police in Colchester and Old Saybrook arrested teens accused of making school threats and displaying concerning behavior. 

“It can be taken really far, and it’s really serious,” says Zuppardi. “It’s very scary.” 

Zuppardi’s daughter is only 4 years-old, but she’s asking school leaders to be more vigilant about student mental health services. 

“Being more aware of social media, and the pressures of being a kid today I think are really, really great,” Zuppardi said.