NEWS
Snapchat post prompts BISD closure
In the midst of an investigation into threatening remarks made by a student, Bowie Independent School District received yet another possible social media threat late Thursday and without time to fully investigate it, the district opted to close all Bowie campuses Friday.
The closure email went out to parents and students shortly before 11 p.m. on Thursday. Superintendent Blake Enlow said a snapchat post began circulating in the community. The post talked about attacking a school and was signed by Devyn.
The threat in part said on Friday “I will make history as the top school slaughter.”
Enlow said he was informed of this at 9:38 p.m. by Bowie Police, explaining based on the limited information the origin cannot be determined but it appeared to have no connection with Bowie. The district does not have a Devyn with that spelling at Bowie High School, the bells do not ring at 7:40 a.m. and there is no mention of Bowie or BHS.
Enlow said with the events of this week related to a separate threat and not having time to fully investigate he and the police decided to close all the campuses “out of an abundance of caution.” Blackburn added there was already such anxiety this week with 130 absent from the high school alone Thursday, it probably would have been counterproductive to have class Friday.
In a late Friday update Enlow said since there does not appear to be a credible threat the district will resume extracurricular events scheduled for Friday and the weekend. Additional law enforcement will be present.
BISD also will resume the regular schedule on May 8.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Several personnel issues including the superintendent’s summative evaluation and filling the vacant intermediate principal position face the Bowie School Trustees when they meet at 5:30 p.m. on June 16.
The superintendent’s review is usually done in two parts during the year with the summative an effort to evaluate overall progress. Donna Hale’s contract also will be considered. as she marks her first year leading the district.
For the intermediate principal’s job, Jason Childress left the post last month taking the new formed director of student services, which will handle many of the tasks the assistant superintendent handled such as curriculum and test scores. That assistant position was eliminated by the board after Lee Ann Farris left the job. Childress’ resignation has been submitted.
Filling the principal’s job and consideration of a rental agreement for a portion of the bus parking lot property also are set for executive session. Any action all these topics will be considered back in open session.
On the regular agenda, the board will receive the 2025 fiscal audit for Jack County. A small portion of the district runs into that county.
The superintendent will provide operational reports and personnel updates. Childress will present the preliminary STAAR scores and the status of board goals, while Paula Peterson, finance director, gives the monthly financial report.
Numerous annual items will be up for action: Contract for cafeteria software; budget amendments; consider the ESSA application, the Montague and Jack County Tax Appraisal District budgets; library books for the elementary; ESC 9 contracts and a Texas Association of School Boards policy updates.
The board also will consider offering open enrollment for pre-kindergarten students for the next school year.
Six Montague County volunteer fire department have received grants from the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The service recently approved $29.3 million in funding for grants to through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.
In the fourth funding round of the year, the program awarded 531 grants addressing volunteer fire department requests for personal protective equipment, slip-on units, fire and rescue equipment, water tenders, small brush trucks and training aids.
Nocona Hills Volunteer Fire Department received a $300,000 grant for a water tender vehicle. Montague and Sunset VFDs each received $45,000 for a slip-on unit, and the Nocona rural, Nocona city and Saint Jo VFDs each received $25,000 for fire and rescue equipment.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
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