Threat scrawled on wall leads to increased security at Kell H.S.

Cobb County school officials reported that things were normal at Kell High School Wednesday after a threat scrawled on the wall of a girls' restroom prompted extra security and a letter to parents.

Schools spokesman Jay Dillon told the AJC late Wednesday morning that while he didn't yet have absenteeism numbers, "just from observation, it appears that attendance is down a bit, which was expected.

"Otherwise, everything is normal," Dillon said.

In a letter to parents posted Tuesday on the school's website, Principal Trudie Donovan said the note "threatened student safety on Nov. 17."

"An investigation is under way and police already are pursuing good leads," Donovan wrote. "Additionally, we have temporarily increased the number of police officers at the school and taken other steps to increase security."

The principal urged parents to send their students to school on Wednesday, saying that "unfortunately, these kinds of messages are not uncommon in high schools today."

She wrote that any student responsible for such a threat faces "serious consequences, including suspension, expulsion and potentially even criminal charges."

A similar threat was reported on Tuesday at Roswell High School in neighboring Fulton County.

Fulton schools spokeswoman Allison Toller said the principal at Roswell High made an announcement to students Wednesday morning offering a $500 reward for information on the vandalism.