Dear South Lake Community,
Last night, Meadow Park Elementary School received a message on its attendance line reporting a false bomb threat from what appears to be an AI-generated call, part of a statewide “swatting” trend affecting schools across California. Out of an abundance of caution, they immediately called the Irvine Police Department, which investigated the report and determined that it was not a credible threat.
“Swatting” refers to a false report made to law enforcement, schools, or other institutions, often claiming a serious emergency, to cause a large police response to a location. Law enforcement agencies have advised that similar hoax calls have been reported at schools across the state today. IPD is part of the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center (OCIAC), a multi-agency partnership that includes federal, state, and local public safety agencies working together to monitor potential threats and share information across jurisdictions.
The safety and well-being of our students and staff is our highest priority, and we take every report seriously. We appreciate the quick actions of IUSD staff and the immediate response from IPD to assess the situation and ensure our campus was safe.
For more information on how IUSD prepares for emergencies, please visit iusd.org/SafetyResources. In addition to reporting concerns to the Irvine Police Department or a trusted adult on campus, students and families may also use the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System to share concerns anonymously.
School safety is a shared responsibility. Even if something may appear to be a hoax, please report it. Thank you for your partnership in helping keep our students, staff and families safe.
Sincerely,
Belinda Averill
Principal