YISD: Two threats, two lockdowns, two days

Editor's Note: Updated at 8:12 to reflect information from a YISD press release

Threats made over the phone sent Yoakum ISD (YISD) campuses into lockdown on two consecutive days to begin the third week of school, according to Yoakum ISD officials.

Yoakum High School’s (YHS) main office received outside threats on both occasions, resulting in lockdowns while Yoakum Police Department (YPD)  and YISD staff secured the campus and adjacent junior high school.

The first call came in at about 3:28 p.m. on Aug. 29, and YISD Superintendent Tom Kelley reported that both schools were in lockdown within minutes of the call to the high school’s main office.

“When the threat came to the high school, we went into a lockdown mode because we had to figure out where it was coming from, if the person was coming to the school or where they were, until we felt we could safely have those kids leave the school,” said Kelley after Monday night’s special called board meeting to approve the coming year’s budget.

Students remained in their classrooms and on school buses for about half an hour while YISD awaited confirmation from law enforcement that the schools could safely be evacuated. Yoakum Police Chief Karl Van Slooten informed YISD that a suspect was taken into custody at 7:40 p.m.

"YHS and YJH had an increase in presence of law enforcement as a precautionary measure today while the investigation of the threat continued," stated a Tuesday night YISD press release. "The Texas Division of Emergency Management, Yoakum Police Department, DPS Highway Patrol and Special Agents, Criminal Investigation Division, and Lavaca County Emergency Management all worked with Yoakum I.S.D. today to ensure the safety of our students and address the ongoing concerns we had for our campus security."

While YISD delayed a press release until about 8 p.m. so information and details from Yoakum Police Department could be collected on Monday, a Facebook post and Black Board Connect notification were sent to parents within an hour of Tuesday's threat.

“We’re secure at every campus now,” said Assistant Superintendent for Administration Chris Kvinta while families picked up students at 2 p.m. Tuesday. “Right now, we’re staying in, working within the buildings. We’re going from class to class, but (students and staff are) not going outside the buildings.”

Parents and guardians lined up around the high school to pick up students one car at a time. Classes continued optionally on all other YISD campuses; parents and guardians could pick up their students from all schools.

"The threat made on both days was from the same source and is believed to be from outside of the area. Law enforcement is continuing the investigation, and YISD will continue to prioritize the safety of our students," stated the Aug. 30 release.

To follow the story as more information becomes available, read next week’s issue of the Herald-Times or visit LavacaCountyToday.com.