PDF: December 16th, Social Media TikTok Threat Trend
Dear Families,
The Ellenville Central School has become aware of a troubling post that has been shared widely this week on the social media platform TikTok. The post refers to a threat to school safety “for every school in the USA, even elementary,” on Friday, December 17.
The post appears to be part of a national TikTok trend and did not originate in our school district. Media across the country are reporting on the post. While we do not believe the threat to be credible, we are closely monitoring the situation and taking it seriously. We wanted to alert our families to this information to ensure they were aware of the originations in the event that there are local conversations among students.
Out of an abundance of caution, the District has been in contact with the Ellenville Police Department regarding the post. It is possible that there may be an increased police presence in our buildings on Friday as an added precaution, so please do not be alarmed.
This situation serves as a good example of why it is important to avoid sharing posts online that refer to school safety threats. All threats are treated seriously until deemed otherwise. Even if they are not credible threats, they can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for our students, families, and staff. We ask our families to monitor their children’s social media activity and speak with them about proper behavior online.
If you or your child become aware of any potential threat posted to social media or anywhere else, please notify a school staff member or trusted adult right away.
As always, thank you for your partnership as we work to ensure a safe, secure, and positive learning environment for our students.
Sincerely,
Lisa A. Wiles
Superintendent of Schools