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TikTok video threatening school safety causes concern at local schools

Solen Feyissa / Unsplash

A video circulating on the social media app TikTok has led to arrests and closures at local schools.

The video references a threat to school safety “for every school in the USA, including elementary,” on Friday, Dec. 17. 

 

The post is part of a national trend, but the Concord Community Police Department investigated a similar threat against Concord Junior High School Thursday.

 

In a letter to families, superintendent Dan Funston said the incident posed no danger to students and staff, but a student was arrested on felony intimidation charges. 

 

The Goshen Police Department also investigated a social media threat Thursday which was directed at GHS. 

 

The investigation revealed the threat came from a California school district with the same initials, but a letter from Superintendent Steven Hope says classes will be moved online at all Goshen Community Schools Friday.

 

"For GHS students who have finals, teachers will work with students to determine how finals will be completed," the letter reads. "For K-8 students who do not have devices at home, the work assigned on an e-learning day does not need to be completed for 5 school days, which would be January 8, 2022. This should not be a concern for any student or parent.

 

The letter says students should check with their teachers via Canvas on how to complete their end-of-semester assignments.

 

Both Concord and Goshen school officials urged families to monitor their children’s online activity, and urged students to avoid sharing posts that refer to school safety threats.

 

In Michigan, Lakeshore Public Schools were also closed Tuesday and Wednesday due to threats. A post on the district’s Facebook page says all safety concerns are taken seriously, not as jokes or pranks. 

 

The post says the school district participates in Michigan’s OK2SAY tipline, and any suspicious activity can be reported by phone (855-565-2729), text at (652729) or email (OK2SAY@mi.gov).

 

This story has been updated.

 

Contact Gemma atgdicarlo@wvpe.orgor follow her on Twitter at@gemma_dicarlo.

 

If you appreciate this kind of journalism on your local NPR station, please support it by donatinghere. 

Gemma DiCarlo came to Indiana by way of Athens, Georgia. She graduated from the University of Georgia in 2020 with a degree in Journalism and certificates in New Media and Sustainability. She has radio experience from her time as associate producer of Athens News Matters, the flagship public affairs program at WUGA-FM.
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