The Walker County school board has approved a measure that would require students to make up time lost because of a bomb threat.

It’s an attempt to curb threats made by students as hoaxes. The policy includes all types of a threats to school safety, not just bomb threats.

Superintendent of Schools Melissa Mathis said of the measure, “Basically it is a very simple procedure addressing lost instructional time. It is now a general understanding that any instructional time lost in school evacuation resulting from a threat to school safety will be made up.”

The school board acknowledged at a recent meeting that threats are a significant concern to the well-being of the county’s students, whether the threats are real or pranks.

Mathis agreed, “A bomb threat represents a potential danger to the safety and welfare of the students and the staff and to the integrity of the property.”

Earlier this year, two students were arrested by local authorities for making bomb threats at LaFayette High and LaFayette Middle schools.

The threat at the high school resulted in an evacuation of the students from the campus, while the threat at the middle school was resolved by authorities without an evacuation.

Both incidences proved to be hoaxes, much like a string of threats received at LaFayette High School in May last school year. The threats, and the manner in which school officials notified the public, raised concerns.

Mathis described the seriousness of such false bomb threats.

“Bomb threats interrupt our instructional program and our learning environment and also places significant demands on school financial resources and public safety services to the community,” Mathis said. “Any bomb threat will be regarded as extremely serious and treated accordingly.”

The board unanimously directed Mathis, and school officials to react promptly and appropriately to any information concerning safety threats with the understanding that any instructional time lost in a school evacuation, resulting from a threat, will be made up by the students.

Mathis described how the time could be made up.

“It will be made up at a time that is deemed appropriate by the principal and subject to my approval,” Mathis said. “Some of the methods may include extending one or more school days.”

Mathis also said holding classes on Saturday is an option on the table.

“Holding a class on Saturday would be a possibility, if the time was accumulated to a great extend,” Mathis said.

Mathis said worst-case scenario could include extending the length of the school year to make up the time.

“We just can’t afford to lose any instructional time to these kinds of incidences,” Mathis said.