PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — With classes kicking back up a little over a month ago for local schools, there have been numerous threats or rumors of threats to schools across the region.
The York County School Division as well as Gloucester County Public Schools have both released statements on Friday.
Gloucester County Public Schools said that social media threats and postings were investigated and found to be unsubstantiated.
“It’s important for everyone to understand that we investigate every alleged threat, no matter how small,” Dr. Anthony Vladu, District Superintendent states. “However, the spread of old, false rumors has not only fueled fear but has also caused significant disruptions and drain valuable resources. The messages reported have been identified as spam and do not represent any credible threats to our safety.”
The schools are asking for parents to talk to their children about posting or spreading misinformation can be harmful to the community.
“We also want to remind students of the importance of turning off their cell phones and keeping them off during school hours,” Vladu said. “Spreading misinformation via the cell phone highlights why they should be turned off and set aside throughout the entire school day. Violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action.”
The York County School Division released a statement of their own after investigating similar threats.
“These threats, primarily spread through social media and text messages, have caused understandable concern in our community,” the release states. “During this review, we assessed our response efforts, evaluated the effectiveness of our procedures, and discussed ways to further enhance the safety of our students and staff.”
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.
