Dear Students, Families, and Staff,
Albemarle County Public Schools 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. We have heard reports from other districts that the same post is circulating in their schools. The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice has stated that it is not aware of any direct threats nor has any specific Virginia target been mentioned, but we are closely monitoring the situation and taking it seriously.
Additionally, the division has been in contact with the Albemarle County Police Department regarding the post. The police department is aware of the post and we will be in contact with the department throughout the day.
This situation serves as a good example of why it is important to avoid sharing posts online that refer to school safety threats. Even if they are not credible threats, they can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for our students, families, and staff. Creating or sharing such posts can also lead to criminal charges. 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. Any potential threat posted to social media can also be reported through our anonymous reporting system, Anonymous Alerts.
As always, thank you for your partnership as we work to ensure a safe, secure, and positive learning environment for our students.
Sincerely,
Dr. Matthew Haas
Superintendent of Albemarle County Public Schools