Date: Friday, September 20, 2024
Subject: Addressing False Rumors of School Shootings
Dear Gloucester County Public Schools Families,
I want to take a moment to address the recent events that have caused fear and anxiety within our school communities. Today, in collaboration with the Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office, our school administrators have investigated more than a dozen reports of social media threats and postings. These reports were non-specific, general in nature, and ultimately found to be unsubstantiated.
It’s important for everyone to understand that we investigate every alleged threat, no matter how small. 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. Unfortunately, when spam or gossip is repeated among peers, it further erodes our sense of security.
We are asking for your help. Please talk with your child and remind them that while it is important to report specific, credible threats, reporting or spreading gossip, spam, and misinformation does harm to themselves and others. This perpetuates anxiety and can disrupt our ability to maintain a safe and focused learning environment.
To be clear, there are no substantiated threats to the safety of our students or staff at this time.
We also want to remind students of the importance of turning off their cell phones and keeping them off during school hours. 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.
It takes everyone working together to ensure the safety of our students. Thank you for your attention to this matter and for helping us maintain a safe and supportive school community.
Sincerely,
Dr. Anthony Vladu
District Superintendent