School apologizes after details of possible weapon on campus fail to reach all parents

Two Duncan Polytechnical High students were arrested Friday after what may have been a false report of an armed student on campus, an incident that left the school apologizing for failing to fully inform all parents in the wake of a schoolwide lockdown.

“We understand that some of our families did not receive phone communications from our school and district during and after yesterday’s lockdown,” the school posted on its Facebook page. “The lockdown was prompted by a report of a weapon on campus triggered by a social media post.”

Fresno police officers were called at 3:43 p.m. after an administrator said the school became aware of a student possibly having a weapon on campus.

Soon after, the school was placed on lockdown. Officers learned the student’s identity, and classrooms were then systematically dismissed until the student was found.

“The lockdown was lifted approximately one hour later after police determined there was no credible threat to students and staff and police advised us to release students one classroom at a time,” the school’s Facebook post stated.

The student did not have a firearm in their possession by the time officers made contact, police said, and an investigation continues into whether that person was ever armed.

Two students who were arrested are facing “the fullest disciplinary action by the Fresno Unified School District,” the school’s post stated.

It was not immediately known if they were being blamed for triggering a false scare or taken into custody for another reason, but the district did note that it encourages “parents to speak with their students about the serious consequences of inappropriate and harmful social media posts.”

Duncan Polytechnical officials will be available to speak with students or parents to provide more information Monday.

“Please be assured,” the post read, “that we (are) reviewing our protocols to make certain that our staff are always prepared to act in the best interest of our students which includes timely communication to our parents and community in the event of an emergency.”

But based on the comments on the school’s Facebook page, it appears at least some parents will have questions ready at the start of the new week.

“How is it that you can text us every day with grades,” one woman posted, “but not everyone received phone call.”

This story was originally published October 7, 2017 at 9:35 PM with the headline "School apologizes after details of possible weapon on campus fail to reach all parents."