THE ISSUE

Legislation could be filed today that would yank students' driver's licenses if they are caught making a bomb threat against a school.

State Sen. Ed Tarver, D-Augusta, said Thursday that he is incorporating suggestions from the Richmond County school board and that the bill could be filed as early as today.

Under the legislation, parents found negligent in supervising children who make bomb threats would be fined $5,000.

"There are going to be some grandmamas tearing some butts up," school board member Frank Dolan said Thursday. In their meeting Thursday, board members said they welcomed the legislation and any relief it would bring.

BACK STORY

Richmond County, and other school systems in Georgia, have been dealing with bomb threats that seem to come in waves. In January, there was a spike in Augusta, with nearly 20 occurring at Glenn Hills Middle and Glenn Hills High.

Joining with the sheriff's office, the school board began releasing audio recordings of the threats, and investigators began using high-tech methods of tracking down the callers and arresting them.

IN OTHER BOARD BUSINESS

- Parents upset with what they see as a strict policy asked board members to reconsider allowing students to carry cell phones on campus for emergency purposes. The issue will be brought back with additional information on how similar school systems deal with the issue.

- The board agreed to allow Historic Augusta Inc. to survey four schools that could be deemed surplus property. If the board decides to dispose of the schools, the surveys could be used to help preserve the properties' historic significance.

-- Greg Gelpi, staff writer