High security at all schools in one Ga. district after FBI warning

The Heard County School System increased police presence at all five of its schools Thursday following an overnight threat not to attend Heard County High School, the district’s associate superintendent said.

“Some of you guys are alright - don’t go to HCHS in Franklin, Ga on 11:28 a.m. tomorrow,” someone said in a social media post.

Franklin police Chief Kevin Hannah told Channel 2 Action News he doubts the threat’s legitimacy but wanted to put decision-making power “in the parent’s hands where it belongs.

“If we felt this was a direct and legitimate threat, we would have canceled school today,” Hannah said.

School officials learned of the threat from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to the Heard Citizen.

“Our main concern is to make sure that our students are as safe as they can be and we are making every effort to make sure they are safe,” Heard superintendent Jerry Prince said.

In a statement to Channel 2, associate superintendent Mike Roberts said “lack of attendance at school today will not count against the students in any way as it relates to unexcused absences or perfect attendance.”

The Heard district is in Franklin, about 58 miles southwest of Atlanta.