So far this school year, school administrators have reported threats to law enforcement that were made on the Internet by three Lawrence high school students. Such incidents call for both a serious response and preventive education, district officials say.

“We take those very, very seriously and immediately turn those over to the police for them to investigate,” said Lawrence Superintendent Rick Doll. “Students need to know when they post things on the Internet that’s a permanent record and whether they are kidding or they are serious, we have to take those very seriously.”

As part of a preventive effort, the district has programs in place to educate both parents and students about responsible social media use. Education about responsible, safe and appropriate use of social media in the middle and high schools includes information provided to students through school assemblies, class presentations and curriculum.

The three Internet threats this school year stem from two separate incidents, one last month at Lawrence High School and the other Nov. 20 at Free State High School, according to information from Julie Boyle, district spokeswoman. In addition to reporting the incidents to law enforcement, school administrators also informed school staff and parents. All three students’ parents were also notified.

“If we think there is any danger, then we don’t hesitate (to contact law enforcement) because it’s too risky,” Doll said.

The school board policy covers threats made over the Internet, whether made on or off school grounds. Because a large portion of Internet activity happens while students are not at school, parents also need to be involved, Doll said.

“Schools can certainly do our part, but parents are responsible for their kids for most of the time, so it has to be a partnership between the school and what’s happening at home,” he said.

On Nov. 20, Free State administration assisted Lawrence police in investigating an allegation that two students posted comments of a threatening nature on the Internet, Boyle said. At no time was the safety of Free State students or staff at risk, she said.

Boyle said that on Oct. 7 Lawrence High administration assisted law enforcement in an investigation of a report that a junior, male student made comments of a threatening nature on the Internet. The report did not involve threats toward Lawrence High. School administration initiated disciplinary action in accordance with board policy, she said.

District officials would not provide additional details about the incidents or the nature of the threats, including who or what the students allegedly threatened, where on the Internet the threats were posted or whether the threats were made on school property.

About 70 percent of teenagers ages 13 to 17 report having access to a smartphone, and about 90 percent report going online daily — including about 25 percent who say they go online “almost constantly,” according to a recent study from Pew Research Center. In order to help parents better understand the topic, school resource officers have been hosting presentations on social media for parents at the district’s four middle schools this year.

Internet threats fall under the board’s hazing and bullying policy, which also covers cyberbullying. The policy states that “bullying shall also include cyberbullying initiated off school premises which threatens or endangers the safety of students, employees, or third parties, or school property, and which substantially disrupts the educational program of the district.” Cyberbullying is defined as “threats or harassment over Internet through web pages, email, instant messaging, text messaging, or by other electronic means.”

Doll noted that the incidents so far this year are few in comparison with the number of students in the district.

“We’ve got about 12,000 kids, and we’ve had two incidents,” he said. “Most of our kids are very, very responsible, so that’s a minute fraction of the number of the kids that we have in school. We don’t want to overact, but we have to be very careful.”

Social media presentations for parents have already taken place this school year at Southwest and South middle schools, and presentations at West and Liberty Memorial Central will follow. Parents will receive notification of the date and time of the presentation about two weeks in advance.