Bandera ISD increasing police presence after "unsubstantiated" shooting rumor

Bandera ISD announced Tuesday evening it is increasing security measures following rumors among students of a possible shooting at Bandera High School which Superintendent Gary Bitzkie labeled as unsubstantiated.

"There is no credible evidence to suggest there is any imminent danger to our school," Bitzkie said in a statement on April 4.

Bandera County Chief Deputy Matt King confirmed to the Bulletin the sheriff's office had been advised of an unconfirmed threat.

"We are going to have extra law enforcement personnel at the school in the morning," he said.

When asked by commenter Jessica Koehler if this meant increased police presence, the Bandera ISD account responded, "yes ma'am."

“We are working closely with local law enforcement to monitor the situation and have increased our security measures on campus," said Bitzkie. "Our staff have been trained to respond to emergency situations and we conduct regular drills to ensure that everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency."

Bitzkie encouraged parents to talk to their children about the importance of reporting any suspicious activity or behavior to a trusted adult.

"It is crucial that we work together as a community to keep our school safe," he said.