Parent pushback after delayed threat notification spurs new Stanley County School District policy

Schools in Pierre, Winner, Sioux Falls and Black Hills have also received threats in first months of new school year

The Stanley County school board meets after their response to a school shooting threat sparked anger amongst parents. (Austin Goss/The Dakota Scout)

FORT PIERRE — A school district in central South Dakota is changing how it will handle threats of violence after parents this week demanded action.

Fort Pierre area parents and guardians of students enrolled in the Stanley County School District packed the school board’s normally sleepy monthly meeting Wednesday night — two days after becoming aware of a law enforcement investigation into school shooting threats.

“We want to inform you about a situation concerning a threat of violence brought to our attention this past week,” an email sent from the Stanley County School District office to parents on Monday said. “Local authorities are conducting an investigation that continues at this time and have informed the school that they feel there is no active threat to the school at this time.”

That the district and Stanley County Sheriff’s Office have been investigating the threat since Thursday, Oct. 3, however, has brought heavy blowback to district administration and its school board members.

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