FortifyFL Training for Parents/Guardians

Parents and Families,

The safety and security of students and staff remains our number one priority. The School District of Manatee County and local law enforcement take every tip and threat seriously. Their commitment and dedication to respond quickly and investigate each tip is a key component to make sure individuals responsible for threats are identified and consequences are received.

Annually, each district school board must make training on the use of FortifyFL available to parents and guardians prior to the start of each school year or at the time of a student’s enrollment if during the school year. The training must explain the potential consequences for anyone making a threat or false report concerning school or school personnel’s property, school transportation, or a school sponsored activity, including disciplinary actions that may occur at school and possible criminal charges. Information concerning criminal charges must include a summary of Sections 790.162, 790.163, 836.10 and 837.05, F.S., and the penalties for violating those statutes.

Summaries of State Statutes:

790.162 – A bomb threat with intent to do bodily harm or cause property damage is a second degree felony and punishable in accordance with Florida law.

790.163 – Making a false report of a bomb threat is a felony of the second degree and punishable in accordance with Florida law.

836.10 – Communication of a written or recorded threat to do bodily harm, in any form including posting on social media, is a felony of the second degree and punishable in accordance with Florida law.

837.05 – Knowingly making a false report to law enforcement may be a first degree misdemeanor or a felony depending on applicable circumstances and is punishable in accordance with Florida law.

We need your help to make sure students understand that submitting false tips is extremely reckless behavior and wastes the time and resources needed for actual emergencies. Any student found filing false tips on FortifyFL, or by any other means, will face severe consequences up to and including arrests, restitution and expulsion.

Parents, please make sure your children understand that filing a false threat, even if intended as a joke, can result in life-altering consequences.

We encourage continued conversation with your students about these matters. Please review these resources and share them with your students.

Thank you.

Reporting Threats and Concerning Behaviors (video 3:03)

Superintendent Wysong Message to Middle and High School Students 9/20/24 (video 3:53)

Sheriff Rick Wells Interview with ABC7 (video 10:51)

Department of Juvenile Justice Resource Guide on School Threats

Parent Resource Guide: Talking to Children About School Threats