POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County officials are responding to a recent rise in school threats.

According to the school district, more than 20 students have been arrested and charged with second-degree felonies for making threats just this school year.

What You Need To Know

Superintendent Fred Heid and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd discussed the threats Thursday and provided a message to students and parents.

"Recently, there has been an alarming increase  in online threats of violence being made either as a joke or a moment of anger. These actions are irresponsible and have serious legal consequences," Heid said.

"As a school district, we've worked very closely with law enforcement to ensure that we have the appropriate safety ehancements to protect our students and staff everyday," he said.

Judd referenced his time serving on a commission that was formed after the Parkland High School mass shootings in 2018. He has studied several school shootings that have occurred in the U.S. since.

"There's a common thread. Words matter," Judd said, stating there were too many instances of threats not being taken seriously and not having the appropriate consequence.

He addressed critics who say investigating each and every threat now is an "over reaction."

"Now I always have a few parents or a few people go, 'Oh it's over reaction.' OK, Einstein, you tell me which (threat) is real. And when you're perfect with your assumption and presumption and statements that, 'Oh all of this is fake, but I'll let you know when the real one is? Then we'll stand down."

Ahead of Thursday's news conference, he said "Any potential threat will be taken seriously. Even something like a gun emoji will be perceived as a threat and can very well land you in jail."

Heid echoed the sheriff’s comments, adding that "written threats will also lead to expulsion from school or placement into an alternative education program."

Polk County isn’t the only district in the Bay area working to make sure kids and staffers are safe in school.

Hillsborough County schools have received 181 false threats since Sept. 4.

So far, none of the threats have appeared to have any validity.

Still, Newsome High School was placed on lockdown last Friday for nearly five hours while the threat was investigated.

On Monday, administrators brought in law enforcement at Newsome and searched all students and staff before they could enter the school building.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is offering a reward for information leading to anyone who threatened the school.