Trend wreaking havoc on Kentucky schools

“It’s causing a school issue device to be short-circuited, causing fire, smoke. Those kinds of things that are happening and, and it’s very destructive and destroys, the device,” said Jessamine County Schools Director of Operations and School Safety Coordinator Matthew Simpson.

West Jessamine Middle School was evacuated after a student participated in the action. Simpson said there can be stiff consequences.

“It really does, cost us time and resources, and those things are precious,” he explained. “Not only do we have the cost of a device but, but there are real criminal charges that can come from this, particularly if a student becomes injured or, you know, heaven forbid, we burn down a school or there’s a loss of life.”

He said it is important that parents urge their children not to participate in the actions.

“So, we just encourage them to really have those conversations,” Simpson added. “I have three, three children myself, two of which are, in middle school. And I just said, guys, this is not worth it. So, let’s step up, let’s do the right thing, and let’s avoid these kinds of behaviors.”