Superintendents from Middle Tennessee have released the following joint statement:
In recent weeks, schools throughout our region have experienced a notable increase in reported threats to school safety. This appears to be part of a trend of similar, non-credible posts on social media that have been circulating in communities across the country.
We encourage our students, staff, and families to speak up if they see or hear anything that could represent a possible safety threat. We will continue to investigate all threats. However, we ask that they use the appropriate channels to report these issues. These would include:
Contacting a school administrator, SRO, teacher, or other school personnel.
Using school system-specific reporting tools (contact your specific district for details).
Using Tennessee’s statewide reporting app, SafeTN.
Contacting local law enforcement through a non-emergency phone number.
Calling 911 in an emergency.
Hoax threats can be highly disruptive to the teaching and learning process, while causing a great deal of stress and anxiety. We are asking for the help of our students, staff, families, and community members, by not sharing rumors or posts referencing unsubstantiated threats via social media. Doing so only causes more confusion and misinformation to spread, which can make it difficult for law enforcement officials to investigate situations in a timely manner.
We all have a role to play in maintaining a safe, secure, and welcoming learning environment. Please report – rather than repost – any school safety concerns.
We thank the members of our respective communities for your support of our schools and the commitment to the safety of the students under our care.
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