APS parents are worried about the shelter at Cibola High School

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Families are safe after students and staff at Cibola High School were forced to shelter in place for just over an hour Friday.

Albuquerque Public Schools says it was out of an abundance of caution due to police activity near the school.

“I got a call from her and she said, ‘Mom, I just love you so much. I want you to know that no matter what happens, I love you. No parent should have to hear that,” said Kristin, whose daughter attends Cibola High School.

This comes after a week of threats and weapons being found at some schools across the state.

The families KOB 4 spoke with are relieved no one was hurt, but say the whole situation was traumatic.

Many students say they didn’t really know what was going on, other than they had to shelter in place. There was an added layer of anxiety and fear after several New Mexico schools faced threats. Cibola students say that includes them.

A high school freshman, who wished to remain anonymous, told us a student was posting on social media threatening to shoot up the school.

When he heard them take cover, he thought the threat was coming true. That threat is something she says several students have tried to tell teachers about.

“He said he was going to delete this B-word. And then my friends told the office and they said kids say things all the time and they were sure we’d be fine. And then several students told them that guy said there was going to be a gun threat and so they still didn’t do anything.”

Other students and parents expressed frustration and said they felt APS was not taking them seriously. I took these questions to the district.

In a statement, they say they understand what’s happening in New Mexico and the country is scary, and went on to say, “If you see a threat on social media, please don’t repost it because you may be unknowingly circulating a false threat. Instead, contact the APS Police Department.”

They also told us they take any threats seriously. The principal at Cibola High School says the only threat they are aware of is the general threat circulating in all high schools in New Mexico this week.

APS also says they want students to know that not every threat posted on social media is credible. If students feel scared or anxious, there are counselors available at each school.

In such situations, not only students and staff are affected. A parent wants to see change.

“I want to know what the protocol is from the first threat up the chain of command. I want to see better from them. I want to see APS listening to the kids,” Kristin said. “I want to see APS take responsibility and I want to see more money going to mental health and more money to families dealing with mental health issues. Because this is not going to stop until the state starts paying attention to it.”