We have been made aware of a message being shared on all forms of social media late this afternoon and throughout the evening. District leadership has been working closely with local law enforcement personnel throughout the day. This post has been shared with law enforcement and they will provide extra officers on our campuses and patrolling areas designated as bus stops throughout the community.
Valdosta City Schools does not tolerate this kind of behavior and feels that every child deserves a safe learning environment. We take all reports of this nature seriously and work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate and take appropriate actions.
Please know that we take these types of messages very seriously when we are made aware of them. The safety and well being of our students and staff is our utmost priority. It is important to note that during an active investigation, we balance the public right-to-know with not interfering with the police investigation. This is often a difficult path to navigate, but we vow to always try to do our best to inform you and avoid interference with any investigation(s). We encourage parents to take this opportunity to converse with their children concerning threats/threatening behavior. Some talking points that may help include:
- The safety of students and staff is one of Valdosta City Schools' highest priorities, and all of us-students, parents, and school employees-have an important role to play in keeping our campus(es) safe. We ask each member of the VCS family to report any suspicious behavior you might encounter, as early intervention can prevent a situation from escalating.
- All threats are taken seriously - this is not a matter than can be joked about. Police are notified, and officers and school administration work together to thoroughly investigate any threat, whether it is made verbally, in writing, email, text message, or online.
- Anyone who makes a threat against a school could face criminal charges. If a student is involved in making a threat, the school/district will respond as outlined in the student handbook.
Again, please know that the safety and security of our students and staff is our utmost concern, and we thank you for the trust that you place in us each and every day. As always, if you have any questions, please contact your school office or administrators.