Dear Cleveland Tiger Family,
Over the past 3 weeks we have had a series of social media posts and student comments regarding school violence or perceived threats. Most recently, a potential threat was reported via a state created reporting app, called ProtectOK. Because a direct report was made, via the app local authorities were able to communicate quickly with school officials and contact the family involved to ensure the safety of all parties. This allowed them to bring a quick resolution to the matter. We thank those who reported the incident through proper channels, and the local authorities for their swift action.
School violence is never funny, nor is any discussion of violence toward self or others. There is no place for these discussions on a school campus or in any setting, especially in today’s society where nationwide coverage of school violence on media outlets is commonplace.
Recap of Social Media Threats
In recent weeks, we have witnessed an unsettling increase in reports of threats toward schools circulating on social media. These posts often resemble something that we would categorize as “social media spam”. Schools across America, including ours, are feeling the impact as people share these posts, contributing to the spread of confusion.
We understand the anxiety these social media posts can cause, especially in a time when school shootings are occurring at alarming rates. We must clarify that the recent threats that were discussed on social media are not connected to Cleveland Schools. We were able to locate connections to these posts from out of state sources, and found schools from communities all over the US dealing with posts containing similar content and narrative. Please rest assured that if any threats were ever confirmed to be related to our district, we would take immediate and appropriate action.
A Call to Action:
We encourage all families to report these “spam social media” posts, not share them. Reporting is the best way to make sure the correct people are aware of any potential issues that could arise. The best avenue to reporting is always direct contact with school administration or proper authorities. We are still using our anonymous reporting system StopIt. All information regarding this method of reporting can be found at this link.
These situations serve as a wake-up call for all of us to remain vigilant. We are asking ALL PARENTS AND FAMILIES TO TALK WITH YOUR STUDENTS ABOUT THE FOLLOWING TOPICS THIS WEEKEND.
- If You See Something, Say Something: It is essential to report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities or school officials promptly.
- Conversations on Topics of Guns/Violence: Classroom, hallway, or school campus are not the places to discuss guns, weapons, or violence. There is no place for jokes about threats to self, others, or school.
- Encourage Reporting: If a student feels concerned or notices something troubling—whether in person or on social media—they should be encouraged to report it directly to the school office and the authorities. The StopIt Reporting app is another method for reporting.
- Think Before You Share: Sharing unconfirmed information on social media does not help our community; it only exacerbates fear. We ask that you encourage your students to practice the same caution.
- Be Understanding of our Protocols: Being present to check your child out, requiring documentation from families to add contacts and pickup rights to individuals, making sure adults check in with the office, being strict with who is in our hallway and for what reasons. These are all protocols that families and adults have expressed frustration with this school year. These decisions are for your child’s safety.