That's the question Horry County Schools and Horry County police are asking.
In the past school year, police have dealt with more than a dozen bomb threats at schools throughout the area.
"We want to work on a plan to get the message across to students, parents and the community as a whole that we're very concerned about the constant bomb threats that are being committed at the schools," said Sergeant Robert Kegler.
So the police department and the school district met this week to come up with that plan, and it starts with education.
"A Public Service Announcement is what we are going to be doing," said Kegler. "Putting together a video and hopefully getting it on the websites of the schools and the police department along with access channels."
In the 2011-2012 school year, police have arrested five students for Conveying False Information Regarding Attempted Use of a Destructive Device. An additional three students were arrested in connection with the bomb threats.
Many of the bomb threats charges are on their way to trial, said Kegler.
"It's not funny. It's not a joke. It's not something to get out of a test or something to get attention. It's a crime. It's a Class D felony actually to make a bomb threat."
In South Carolina, a Class D felonyconviction can carry as much as 15 years.
Most recently, police have responded to two bomb threats at Forestbrook Middle School(
conviction can carry as much as 15 years.
Most recently, police have responded to two bomb threats at Forestbrook Middle School in a three week span.
Deborah Ware's family recently moved from Ohio to Forestbrook Middle's area, and her 12-year-old son, Morgan, attends the school.
"It's nerve racking," said Ware. "He's never had to experience this before from where we came from, and to be in a school where people are actually threatening lives of other classmates and teachers because they are angry about situations is very disturbing."
Ware said, she likes that the county is doing something about the threats but feels the issue ultimately resides with the parents.
"It all comes down to counseling, guidance, parenting," she said.
She calls the step in the right direction but believes more can be done to alert parents when situations like a bomb threat occur.
Police and school leaders will meet again next week.
Kegler expects an official announcement to come within two weeks and expects more ideas to come out of the meetings.
"Right now, we are in the brain storming session," said Kegler. "So if something else comes up that is a good idea, we'll definitely look at that as well."
