Superintendent responds to phone call threats made at Bristol schools

The series of phone call threats made to at least several school districts in the state have turned out to be “swatting” threats.
According to a message of Bristol Supt. of Schools Dr. Ellen Solek that was posted on the Mayor’s Facebook page, these swatting threats use sophisticated software programs designed to “deliberately distract and disrupt daily routines.” Solek said these kinds of threats have prompted the FBI as well as state and local law enforcement to “take swift action and to conduct a thorough investigation of each incident.” On Tuesday, phone call threats were made at Bristol Central High School and South Side School, resulting in early dismissal at both schools as a precaution. Patrol officers responded to both schools and took safety measures to ensure there was no immediate danger to any students.
Meanwhile, other phone call threats were reported on Tuesday at Stamford and West Haven High Schools, and Tolland Schools have also investigated a similar threat that took place the next day.
Solek said in her statement that during meetings with law enforcement, officials expressed that “ongoing investigations may quickly lead to determining the sending location(s) and the perpetrator(s) of these threats.”
Solek also said in her statement, “First and foremost, our primary focus in the Bristol Public Schools is to foster and to maintain our schools as safe and secure places for children – each and every day. Even when events such as [Tuesday’s] threats occur, professional staff in every one of our schools consistently undergoes numerous staff development workshops and training in all aspects of school safety and security. They are well trained and well prepared to enact rehearsed school safety protocols.”
Solek added in her statement that personnel are trained to “work closely with local and state law enforcement officials and to closely adhere to all on-site threat assessments.” According to the Bristol Police Department, the threat received at Bristol Central was in reference to a person with a gun on school grounds, while the threat at South Side was in reference to a bomb at the school. Both schools were secured and searched by police, and nothing was found.
Solek said in her statement that unauthorized calls were made directly to local news stations, and postings were made to social media before police arrived to the schools, and before school safety protocols could be fully carried out. She added that sending voice and text messages to 9,280 recipients during mid-day can take up to ten minutes to reach their phone during the day when messaging is at peak volume.
“What can result from those unauthorized calls and postings is confusion, misinformation, or incomplete information about the events taking place—just what the ‘Swatters’ intend,” said Solek in her statement. “We are continuing to work with our messaging service and our technology staff to fix the delays that occurred…and to speed up the overall transmission of voice messaging and texting so that we can provide you with accurate on-site information as quickly as possible.”