Arcadia parents pull children from West Elementary after continued swatting threats toward school

ARCADIA, Fla. —

Uniformed and undercover deputies surrounded West Elementary School in Arcadia this afternoon, eventually making their way into the building.

Parents are pulling their children out of class due to ongoing threats. Willow Wilder, a former student of West Elementary School, transferred her son to another school after repeated threats made her feel it was safer.

"I seriously think that they should take a step back and see what's best for the children and just stop school until it gets figured out," Wilder said.

Wilder recounted a distressing moment when her son contacted his stepmother during the first threat.

"My son was contacting his stepmom when the first threat happened, and he texted her, mom, I don't want to die. And like literally both of us in tears," Wilder said.

This marks the eighth threat against the school since last Monday. Four sheriff's deputies, fully suited up, entered the school. The nature of the threat remains unclear as authorities have yet to provide details.

Megan Adams decided to pull her son out of school for the rest of the week. "The way they're handling it? I mean, I understand, you know, the cops and everybody coming in, I think that's fine. They're doing their job. But the way they are addressing it to the parents, I don't think we're getting enough information as to what's going on," Adams said.

Wilder expressed her desire for the school to improve its communication. "My last automated voicemail that I received was that there was a threat. The sheriff's department was contacted, and that was it, not what the threat was or, you know, no details," Wilder said.

West Elementary School Principal Nicole Black said they are working with the De Soto County Sheriff's Office and Arcadia Police Department to find out who is sending these threats. They say the source is not credible and that the campus is safe.

They also said that thanks to Superintendent Bennett, there is now going to be evening security patrolling the school.

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