Massachusetts

School districts release statements after social media hoax

Idris Bevan September 9, 2024

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – School districts across south Georgia have been made aware of false reports circulating on social media about possible threats to schools.

There was a lively exchange on social media, and various posts and accusations circulated from both students and parents.

Atkinson County Schools said in a Facebook post:

The Dougherty County School District releases this statement:

“The district is aware of a threat circulating on social media across the state. It appears that the schools mentioned are from a list of Title 1 schools listed on the GaDOE website. While we believe this is a hoax, out of an abundance of caution we are imposing a soft lockdown at all schools until the posts are thoroughly investigated. The safety of our students, staff and guests is our top priority.”

Mitchell County School District says: “District officials have been made aware of social media posts containing rumors of potential threats to our schools. We are working closely with local law enforcement, including police and sheriff departments, to ensure all relevant information is shared and acted upon. The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority, and we are taking additional security measures as a precaution. Law enforcement is actively investigating the situation, and we urge anyone with information to report it immediately. Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to keeping our community safe.”

Tift County Schools has made several Facebook posts assuring parents that their district is putting safety first by implementing access badges for all school buildings. All Tift County schools are equipped with the Centegix CrisisAlert system and a System Security Officer (SSO) will be present on each school campus.

Worth County Schools also turned to Facebook to address social media threats.

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