Rumors, faked threats fuel school concerns

BY STACI WILSON

In the wake of the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Fla., that claimed the lives of 17, tension in local school districts remains high with rumors of threats as student safety becomes a primary focus.

Last week, Pennsylvania State Police reported that a 10-year-old female resident of Susquehanna County admitted to sending a threatening text message, on Monday, Feb. 26, but told police it was a “joke.”

The message identified a “guy 1” and a “guy 2” and said they were planning to commit a school shooting at the following schools: Scranton, Blue Ridge, Lathrop Street (Montrose Area) and Vestal.

Montrose Area Superintendent Carol Boyce and Blue Ridge Superintendent Matthew Button both confirmed that no actual credible or valid threats were made on the schools.

In a statement to the Independent on Tuesday, Feb. 27, Boyce said, “The State Police were notified first and communicated with the district. We have participated with the State Police in a joint investigation which determined the source.”

She said the district was taking appropriate disciplinary action which could not be released because of the student’s privacy rights.

A week prior, rumors also circulated in the Montrose Area School District regarding a potential threat.

“We notify law enforcement in these instances and investigate immediately and thoroughly.  This process involves interviewing anyone a rumor may involve, either by school administrators or as necessary by State Police or county law enforcement,” Boyce said. “We encourage anyone who has information to share it with us. ‘See/hear something – say something’ is an important message!”

Button said the Blue Ridge School District has a protocol and procedures are in place in regards to student safety, including notifying and communicating with law enforcement. “We never want to impede an investigation of the state police,” he said, and noted the addition of a School Resource Officer in the district this school year.

In terms of school safety, Button said he feels the district is safer now than it was prior to the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012.

“We were behind the curve with Sandy Hook; but ahead of the curve with (Marjory Stoneman Douglas),” he said.

The district’s focus, he said, has been on creating a safe environment “with the resources we have now.”

The board discussed safety issues at length during its February 26 work session.

The district has also moved to make more mental health services available to students and families; and plans to hold more “lock-down” drills.

National School Walkout

Students in the Blue Ridge School District had planned to participate in the National School Walkout on March 14, backed by the Women’s March Youth EMPOWER.

The planned demonstration called for students, as well as teachers, staff and administrators, to leave the classroom for 17 minutes to demonstrate against Congress’ “inaction to gun violence,” according to the walkout’s website.

Blue Ridge administrators initially okayed the proposed student walkout as a means to honor the 17 killed in Florida last month.

But, the district reversed its course Monday night after the several parents questioned the listing of the Blue Ridge School District on the Women’s March Action Network website, and sought information about the protest on the Blue Ridge Parent Forum Facebook page.

As of press time, the Blue Ridge walkout listing had been removed from the website. No other county school districts are listed as participating in the event.

In a statement read at the Monday, March 5, meeting, Blue Ridge Board President Chris Lewis said the district’s primary duty is education and is a “non-partisan and neutral entity.”

“We will not engage in political debates, nor will we take a stance on any political issue whether Republican or Democrat. Our decisions for the District will be made based on what is in the best interest of our students, their families, our staff, and the community at large,” Lewis said.

“When it comes to the National School Walkout specifically, the Blue Ridge School District has decided that we will not allow the program to take place at our school on March 14,” Lewis said.

He added that the district “strives to be an inclusive educational place and we do not want to see this topic become a divisive wedge, pitting students against students or even staff against staff.”

The Blue Ridge administration will be looking for potential options for students wanting to remember the victims of the Parkland shooting, Lewis said.

On March 1, the superintendent held a “roundtable discussion” with a group of 25 students and staff that focused on safety and security at Blue Ridge, giving all an opportunity to speak and understand safety measures the district is taking and planning to take.

Several parents attending the meeting told the board the statement from Lewis had addressed most of their concerns.

Jodi Fiore said the planned walkout was dividing the students. “I do not want to deprive the children of a way to honor the 17,” she said, “Let them do something that’s proactive.”

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