Recently, misinformation regarding school shooting threats has been spread across social media platforms. On Sept. 20, an email was sent out to parents and students regarding the situation, and it is clear that no direct threats have been made and the district remains safe.
According to Matt Johns, the dean of students, these threats have been reported across the country. They began in Texas and Georgia, and since then have been screenshot and reposted on social media apps, such as Instagram and Snapchat, captioned with lists of various towns and cities.
Johns notes that in the event of a potential threat, the school follows standard procedures to determine how to proceed with the situation.
“One of the first things we would do is notify our school resource officer. If it’s after hours we would reach out either to our school resource officer or the Manheim Township police department,” he said.
The email sent out to parents and students acknowledged that there was an extra police presence in the school on Sept. 20. Johns said that Manheim Township’s new police chief, Duane Fisher, has hired 20-25 new officers. One of his goals is to familiarize the officers with the district’s buildings so they will be equipped to provide extra protection in emergency situations.
Johns also urges students to refrain from spreading misinformation regarding school shooting threats. He advises against posting information on social media or spreading it through text message group chats. It is also important to not speak too loudly about a situation in classes or in the hallways so as to not cause panic.
If students are aware of a potential threat, it is important to report concerns with trusted adults. It is advised to go to the office or school resource officer and make the school aware of the threat. It is also recommended to report any incident to Safe2Say, an app where unsafe or potentially violent behaviors can be reported anonymously and pushed out to trusted authorities. There is also a Safe2Say anonymous tip line at 1-844-SAF2SAY (1-844-723-2729).
