Threats In Conroe ISD Raise Concerns Of Safety With Parents

CONROE, TX — A campus-wide search of school lockers at Oak Ridge High School, and subsequent rumors of arrests related to the discovery of weapons on campus has raised safety concerns among parents in Conroe ISD.

The school district confirmed that there was a random search of school of lockers at Oak Ridge High School, but there was not a threat leveled against students at the school.

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Police were at the school to search students as they arrived for classes.

Students were searched with wand metal detectors, while K-9 officers waited nearby to search lockers.

During the search, students posted images of bullet casings that were actually taken from a starter pistol used at track meets.

Police arrested one student when police found drugs in one of the lockers on March 23, according to a Houston Chronicle report.

However, officials said threats at schools in Conroe ISD have increased since the Parkland, Florida shooting, with authorities arresting nearly 30 juveniles who've made threats, which are taken seriously by Conroe ISD, and the Montgomery County Attorney's Office.

A check of the Conroe ISD webpage reveals a box with readily available and accessible safety information and safety tips.

Those tips include a reminder to be vigilant, and to say something if students, staff, or parents hear or see any thing suspicious, resources for bullying and cyberbullying, and a rundown of the steps Conroe ISD has taken to ensure the safety of everyone on their campuses.

While the resources are helpful, parents are still concerned that they are being kept in the dark about rumors of threats, and more rumors that gangs are now part of the landscape at Oak Ridge High School.

Kristen Bays, whose daughter recently transfered from Oak Ridge High School, told the Chronicle that parents have lost confidence in Conroe ISD and Oak Ridge High School administrators.

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