‘Challenging time’: Glenunga International High School community still on alert

More than a month after its first emailed threat, the eastern suburbs high school remains on high alert.

Extra security around Glenunga International High School, including lines of temporary bollards. Picture: RoyVPhotography

Security including extra cameras and bollards remain in place at South Australia’s largest public school, as a series of threats have repeatedly been sent to staff for over a month.

The Glenunga International High School community remains on alert after a spate of threatening emails were sent to principal Wendy Johnson, starting in February.

Police are investigating the threats, which have not stopped.

The eastern suburbs school’s outside camera system had since been updated and bollards were put in place.

On Tuesday, Ms Johnson told the school’s community “the situation of our concerning emails has not been resolved”.

“It hasn’t grown in intensity, nor has it stopped,” Ms Johnson said.

“We await the arrival of our new permanent bollards and we are expecting our security guards to continue.”

Parent Kimberley Yeeles, who has a daughter in year 7 and a son in year 10, said there was constant security on campus including police and staff.

“I don’t understand how they can’t work out who it is,” said Ms Yeeles of the ongoing investigation.

Despite the threats, Ms Yeeles has “confidence in the school” to keep her children safe.

Bollards line the perimeter of Glenunga International High School. Picture: RoyVPhotography

Another parent Linh Duong has a daughter Elyssia is in year 12 and son Sammy in year 7, and said the ongoing threats were concerning.

“It’s a bit crazy things like this happen in Adelaide, especially in this area because it’s an affluent area,” said Ms Duong.

“It seems to be quite an ongoing thing.”

Ms Duong, a school support officer at a different site, said while “the barricades are a bit of a nuisance”, they’re necessary.

Jenny Jia, who has a son in year 10, says she is shocked and that the situation at the school is “not really safe”.

“Of course I worry about it, I’m worried about my son,” Ms Jia, 48, said.

“They should hire more security staff.”

Despite the added security, the school will operate “business as usual”, the principal wrote.

“We really appreciate the way in which our students have not been distracted from their learning,” Ms Johnson said.

She highlighted “the resiliency of our staff throughout this challenging time” and the community’s “trust that school leaders can effectively navigate the situation”.

“We will communicate what is happening as soon as we are able if there is any change in the situation,” Ms Johnson said.

An Education Department spokeswoman said on Wednesday it became aware of the emails earlier this year.

Despite the added security, the school will operate “business as usual”. Pic. RoyVPhotography

“The department continues to work with the South Australian Police, who are investigating this matter and increased security measures put in place at the school remain in place out of an abundance of precaution,” she said.

“We remind members of the school community to report anything unusual in the proximity of the school to Crime Stoppers.”

An SA Police spokeswoman said it was “continuing to conduct the appropriate investigations”.

In February, when the threats emerged, education director Sandy Richardson said extra security measures were put in place “as a precaution”.
In addition to regular lockdown and evacuation drills, the visitor screening and site security, further patrols and “changes to traffic arrangements around the school” were put in place.

Glenunga International High School has about 2300 students from years 7 to 12.