Message for TCSS Students, Families, Faculty, and Staff

Update - 11:13 am

TCSS Students, Families, Faculty, and Staff,

We have received further information about the possible safety concern involving schools, which we contacted you about earlier this morning.

We have learned that the alert was specifically about an online group with a history of making hoax “swatting” calls nationwide, and concerns that they may conduct these calls to schools today. Swatting is where someone makes a prank call to emergency services to bring a large number of law enforcement officers to a particular location.

Whenever we receive information about a potential safety concern that could impact our schools, even if we have limited details, we take that concern seriously. The safety and security of our students, faculty, and staff is our highest priority.  

Sincerely,

Office of the Superintendent

Tuscaloosa County School System

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October 3, 2024 - 6:53 am

TCSS Students, Families, Faculty, and Staff,

Today (Thursday, October 3), you will notice additional safety precautions at our schools, and possibly additional law enforcement officers near our school campuses. This is because law enforcement has made us aware of a possible threat to schools nationwide. No schools in Alabama have been identified as targets, and this is not specific to TCSS in any way. However, we take all safety concerns seriously and will operate on Heightened Awareness today, out of an abundance of caution.

We implement the Heightened Awareness mode of our TCSS Safety Plan when a potential MAY exist for an unusual situation, and everyone should have heightened awareness to react as needed. Heightened Awareness is not the same as a lockout or lockdown. Under Heightened Awareness, we take extra steps to monitor hallways, entrance points, arrivals, dismissals, and make sure doors are secure. 

If you have a concern about school safety, as always, alert law enforcement or a school administrator immediately. This is one of the most important actions anyone can take to keep our schools safe. You may also use our confidential Speak Up for Safety line, if you have a safety concern to share.

Speak Up for Safety email address: speakup@tcss.net

Speak Up for Safety - call or text: (659) 734-2808

If there is additional information to share throughout the day, we will share that with you as quickly as possible.

Sincerely,

Office of the Superintendent

Tuscaloosa County School System