MIAMI – Miami-Dade County Public Schools experienced a smooth day Thursday after receiving a "non-credible threat" similar to those received by other school districts in Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Dallas, and Broward County.
“We would like to thank parents for entrusting us with the safety of their children,” said Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. “The security and well-being of our students and staff will always be our top priority.”
Carvalho held a news conference Thursday morning, saying that several school board members received the same threatening email at about 8 p.m.
"The message of the threat was both general and specific," Carvalho said.
Carvalho said the threat was deemed not to be credible and said all school daily operations would continue as scheduled although there would be an increase in police on school campuses.
School representatives notified the public about the threat shortly after it was received Wednesday.
"Late Wednesday evening, Miami-Dade County Public Schools received a threat similar to those received by other school districts including Los Angeles and New York earlier this week," a statement said. "District officials have also learned that similar threats have been received by Broward County Public Schools and Houston Independent School District."
Carvalho said the same threatening email was sent to school districts in Broward County, Orange County and out of state school districts in Long Beach, California, Houston and Dallas.
In Dallas, school officials said emails were sent to two teachers in separate schools Wednesday night. The two schools were searched overnight and a phone bank was set up for worried parents Thursday.
Miami-Dade Schools Police Department investigated the threat with the help of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
Broward County school officials also confirmed that they are investigating a threat received Wednesday night.
The school district spokeswoman sent Local 10 News a very similar statement Thursday morning saying, "Late Wednesday evening, Broward County Public Schools received an email similar to the emails received in other school districts such as Los Angeles, New York, Houston, and Miami-Dade."
Carvalho said school counselors and teachers have been given packets to help them discuss the threats with their students. He said it is important for the children to know what the threat "is and what it isn't," and said they want to ensure that the children feel safe.
"We ought to be vigilant, we ought to be aware and prepared, but we ought not be afraid," Carvalho said.
Police said that parents received robocalls and text messages after the incident.