In Partnership with 74

One year ago today the schools shut down: Revisiting the fallout from the threatening email

Mike Szymanski | December 15, 2016



Your donation will help us produce journalism like this. Please give today.

LA Unified Board President Steve Zimmer at this afternoon's press conference

LA Unified board President Steve Zimmer at the afternoon news conference on Dec. 15, 2015.

One year ago today, the second-largest school district in the country made a decision to shut down all its schools. At 6:25 a.m. the call went out after LA Unified school board President Steve Zimmer received an email that threatened students and staff with weapons and bombs.

The district was between superintendents. Ramon Cortines had actually left three days earlier, and the school board was in the middle of a nationwide search for his replacement.

Cortines was called back in, and acting Superintendent Michelle King, who a month later would be named to the post, joined him as they stood as calming voices during a chaotic day of news conferences that included city, county and state officials.

The district is expected to release its report today that assesses how the various departments responded to the December event and what can be improved in district rapid response. School Police Chief Steven Zipperman wrote the report, which was compiled for Earl Perkins and his district operations office. It has been turned in to King, who must approve it before it is released. Check back for LA School Report’s analysis of what the district has learned — and has yet to learn.

Here are links to highlights of last year’s coverage.

Read Next