Sol Pais, the Florida woman accused of making nonspecific threats against schools in the Denver metropolitan area, was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday morning, the FBI confirmed. The FBI Denver office confirmed the agency had responded to the base of Mount Evans Wednesday morning and, in a tweet just before 11 a.m., said there was no longer a threat to the community. All Denver area schools had canceled classes Wednesday. view article

Three fifth-grade girls Wednesday at Mountain View Elementary School threatened to commit acts of violence against the school, school officials say. "We have suspended those students and they will not be back at Mountain View," said Terry Abbott, Killeen Independent School District chief communication officer, in an email. view article

A set of safety and security procedures for the soon-to-be reopened Tomato Bowl was adopted by Jacksonville ISD trustees Monday,“to create a safer, more pleasant atmosphere for all,” according to a district employee. Calah Moake – administrative assistant to Dr. Chad Kelly, JISD superintendent – said JISD Police Chief Bill Avera presented the recommended procedures to the board during their regular monthly meeting, describing the various items that will be banned from the historic stadium during events held there. view article

The Greenville ISD Police Department released a letter to parents describing an incident of a suspicious man offering a ride to a female student. The letter, in its entirety, is below. view article

A former soccer coach at Forney High School was booked into the Kaufman County Jail on Wednesday, more than a year after a hazing case led to sex charges against several boys on his team. Kristopher Duplissey, 41, was arrested on a charge of failure to report the allegations of sexual assault among his players. The Class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in jail. He remains in the Kaufman County Jail in lieu of $3,500 bail. Court records made public more than a year ago showed that school officials, including the coach, knew of the accusations weeks before they were reported to authorities. Duplissey is the first educator charged in the case. view article

Dripping Springs ISD’s School Health Advisory Committee met April 16 to discuss details of the scope and sequence of a new sex education curriculum for the district. The group could recommend the Baylor Scott & White Adolescent Wellness and Sexual Healthcurriculum to the DSISD board of trustees in May. SHAC had previously met April 1 in what was expected to be the final discussion on the curriculum, and voted 7-1 in favor of the Baylor Scott & White curriculum. However, SHAC elected to hold two additional meetings to discuss curriculum details and hear more public feedback before presenting a recommendation to the board. view article

Recent school shootings have lead Katy ISD to re-think its security plan. And now the district is seeking $7 million for additional upgrades. “My son feels safe,” said Cinco Ranch Junior High mom Tiffany Smiley. But Smiley still supports a plan to secure things even more. “In this day and age, I don’t think you can be too safe or too careful,” Smiley said. view article

Plano ISD has canceled its after-school and evening activities April 17 because of severe weather forecasts. The school district announced the decision Wednesday afternoon after consulting with the National Weather Service, PISD spokesperson Lesley Range-Stanton said in a statement. view article

A new program called Donuts, Deputies, and Discussion is gaining popularity at Channelview ISD schools. Administrators and campus law enforcement meet with parents to go over safety procedures. "I think it's important to keep them informed," said Eric Lathan, principal at Anthony Aguirre Junior High Principal. "That way, they know exactly what's going on with the campus and they feel involved, and involved in the decision-making process as well." view article

Four Houston-area school districts were among 17 others that received waivers for safety-related attendance drops this school year, according to data from the Texas Education Agency. A recent story from the Houston Chronicle highlighted the data to show the challenges facing educators who teach and protect students at a time when mass shootings are ingrained in the public's mind. view article

Five unnamed mothers in New York City filed a lawsuit Monday, April 15, seeking to block the city's mandatory vaccination order in areas hit by a massive measles outbreak that has raged since last October. City health officials announced the order earlier this month as they declared a public health emergency over the outbreak, which has sickened 329 people so far—mostly children. According to the city's order, all unvaccinated people in affected ZIP codes must receive the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, prove immunity, or have a valid medical exemption. Violators could face a fine of $1,000. view article

Superintendent David Hedges said that student safety is the school district's first priority, and the new signs emphasize that policy. Something that Melissa Bedford and Brandy Ruggles, whose kids attend Petrolia Elementary, agree is a good thing. "Three seconds of reading that sign is three seconds that we didn't have before and its a possible re-direction we didn't have before," Bedford said. view article

Parents and conservative advocates complained to a Texas Senate committee Tuesday that school districts have not been transparent in developing sex education programs and have excluded parents who want to serve on school health advisory councils, which make recommendations on such teachings. “A few districts have trustees appoint all members. But generally district employees choose the members or districts allow whoever shows up at the meetings to join committees, make recommendations and vote,” said Deborah Simmons, who has served on the Round Rock district school health council. “What are they trying to hide and where is the transparency we expect?” view article

The deadly attack at Columbine High School in 1999 seemed to usher in a new era of school shootings. Two decades later, polls consistently capture growing fears among American parents that their children face imminent danger whenever they go to school. Those fears have only intensified since attacks at an elementary school in 2012 in Newtown, Connecticut, and last year at a high school in Parkland, Florida. view article

Amarillo Independent School Districts gave thanks for the continued support from business partners and volunteers. Tonight they honored nearly the three thousand people who have had an active role in schools and who work on changing the lives of students. view article

Three students were injured in a crash involving a Palestine ISD school bus. According to Palestine ISD, one of their school buses was involved in a one-vehicle wreck Monday afternoon on Highway 79 East. They reported the driver of the bus and three students were injured in the wreck. According to Palestine ISD, their injuries didn’t appear to be serious, however, they were transported to the hospital as a precaution. view article

Multiple Denver-area school districts have canceled classes for Wednesday after a Miami woman “infatuated” with the 1999 Columbine massacre made threats and traveled to Colorado where she bought firearms earlier this week, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.  Sol Pais, 18, who has a history of making “concerning” comments, arrived in Colorado from Miami early Monday and bought a pump action shotgun and ammunition, the FBI told reporters Tuesday evening. The FBI’s Miami office had reportedly alerted its Denver counterpart after learning of the potential threat. view article

As the saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas. Keeping up with cities like Allen and McKinney, Prosper ISD unveiled plans for a massive sports complex, equipped with a professional grade football stadium and natatorium, dubbed the Children’s Health Stadium at Prosper ISD. Although the complex will grab the headlines, the name may show a deeper trend in Texas medicine. The stadium itself is oversized and, dare we say, to be expected. According to Huckabee, the company charged with designing the facilities, the football and soccer stadium will feature a two-story press box and house approximately 12,000 spectators.  view article

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD (GCISD) is on a mission to make sure North Texas parent are equipped with the resources to keep kids safe in the ever-evolving world of technology. Parents from across North Texas are welcome to learn about apps they may see on their child’s phone at a meeting Tuesday night. The Parent Tech Academy will meet at 6:15 p.m. at Heritage Middle School. "The big thing we are talking about this month are apps parents need to know," GCISD Chief Technology Officer Kyle Berger said. "There are a wealth of apps out there that students have on their devises and there are a lot of them that we need to talk about." view article

The Austin Independent School District will offer free physicals for middle and high school students who will be participating in athletics, cheerleading or marching band. The free physicals are made possible through AISD's partnership with the Travis County Medical Society. The clinics will be available for children without a primary doctor or the ability to get a physical. view article

Burkburnett ISD officials say an online threat against Burkburnett Middle School, no longer exists. That's the latest from the Burk ISD Superintendent who says the district's police chief was able to identify and locate the person responsible. The news follows a threat posted on social media last month that also included the date 4/16/19. view article

Students at Westwood High School describe the threat of school shootings as a "constant fear." Last May, at Santa Fe High School, near Houston, that fear became reality when authorities say a 17-year-old high school junior killed 10 people and injured 13 more. Now, nearly a year later, lawmakers at the Texas Capitol are working to boost mental health resources on campuses statewide, expand the school marshal program and implement a myriad of other safety measures. Noticeably absent from the conversation – any semblance of gun control. view article

Having adopted the I Love You Guys Foundation’s standard response protocol for emergencies, the Ector County Independent School District Police Department is training campus staff and other officers in the new procedures. Trustees voted 7-0 March 5 to approve a memorandum of understanding with the foundation. ECISD Police Chief Todd Hiner told trustees the district would change the language used to call for, and respond to, lockdowns and other emergencies. Training has started to inform district employees, students and families. view article

Heidi Lee Pottinger’s 4-year-old son was at a football game last fall with his father when, following a touchdown, celebratory fireworks rocketed into the sky. Panicked by the popping sounds, the little boy turned to his dad. “Active shooter!” he cried, tears in his eyes. Pottinger’s son is one of millions of schoolchildren in America who have done active shooter and lockdown drills. The exercises, a legacy of the April 20, 1999, Columbine High School rampage, are intended to prepare teachers and students for the rare threat of a gunman opening fire in their school. view article

The Round Rock school district recently began using a virtual reality program to train staff members on identifying students who may be harboring suicidal thoughts, according to reports. Suicide prevention training through the use of interaction scenarios between "virtual humans" is provided via use of a simulation service called Kognito, according to the company's website that showcases Round Rock ISD as one of its case studies. According to the company, users enter into a virtual environment to interact with "emotionally responsive virtual humans" in gaining insight into student who may be in the throes of mental health crises. view article

A Tatum ISD student was arrested after showing students a handgun after school Wednesday, according to a letter addressed to parents from Superintendent J.P. Richardson and posted Thursday on the district’s Facebook page. In the letter, Richardson said the student showed the gun to other students at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday while on the high school campus. He said students who saw the handgun reported the incident to officials Thursday. The student suspected of showing the gun and the student’s belongings were removed from the classroom and searched, Richardson said. The handgun was not found. view article

North Lamar ISD campuses were put on lockdown earlier today for a man with a gun. view article

A Marlin ISD student is facing disciplinary action after bringing an "air gun" to school. view article

Houston police are investigating after a student was hit by a stray bullet while he was playing on the basketball court outside of Sterling High School.  Officers say the victim is a 15-year-old student. He was struck in the arm and is expected to be okay.  The bullet traveled almost half a mile and struck him.    view article

Two Corpus Christi eighth-grade students who were on the receiving end of profanity and threats from an irate parent have been cleared of bullying accusations. On April 3, a parent approached two eighth-graders at the school and began screaming profanities and threats at them. The incident was captured on video and posted on social media.  view article

Harleton ISD officials told parents Tuesday that a student at one of its campuses threatened Monday to bring a gun to school. Harleton ISD parents were notified via email and an all call alert at about 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday about the threat that the district said it learned of Monday afternoon. view article

Acknowledging the student population at Central Heights ISD had outgrown the school district’s crisis plan, Nacogdoches County Commissioners agreed on Wednesday to designate the County Expo and Civic Center as an evacuation facility. CHISD’s evacuation plan dates back nearly 20 years, said Superintendent David Russell, who has been with the district for 19 years. view article

An agreement with the University Health System will open health clinics at two middle schools in the San Antonio Independent School District. Trustees for SAISD unanimously approved the deal Monday night. Both clinics will serve students and district employees in portable buildings on school grounds. view article

Big Sandy ISD says authorities have identified "persons of interest" who may have created a Snapchat post in which Big Sandy ISD was threatened. In a post on Facebook, Big Sandy administrators said they have been working with Upshur County Sheriff's Office, Big Sandy Police Department, the Longview Cybercrime Unit, the FBI and the Texas Rangers. view article

Big Sandy ISD canceled classes today after a threat made against the school district. Superintendent Jay Ratcliff said in a post on the district’s Facebook page Tuesday night that the district was aware of a recent threat made against Big Sandy ISD. School officials were “working diligently” to figure out the origin of the threat, according to the post. The post mentioned social media platforms Snapchat and Instagram, but it did not say the threat was made using one of the platforms. view article