This was a week we won’t soon forget.

First, and most importantly, we would like to share our appreciation for the incredible coordinated effort of our staff alongside our law enforcement partners this week at Lapeer High School. We could not be more grateful for their hard work and attention to detail, as we navigated very challenging circumstances. In addition, we are grateful for the support, patience and understanding of so many of our students and parents throughout the week.

And while the focus is on gratitude, we think it’s imperative that we give voice to a problem that continues to make the already difficult process of securing our schools even more challenging: the negative impacts of social media, online rumors, and the sharing of misinformation.

Our number one job is to keep our students and staff safe at school, and the constant bombardment of false and misleading information online makes that endeavor much more difficult. We recognize that the vast majority of you do not engage in this type of behavior online, but we think it’s important that everyone understands the challenges we face.

Before we discuss some ways that you can help us moving forward, it is important to recognize the reality of now: school districts across our state and country are being overwhelmed with threats, rumors of threats and anti-social behavior of students manifesting online.

Just this week, Clintondale and Port Huron had to close schools due to investigations of threats. This is a constant, almost daily battle for us, especially at the secondary level.

In this context, it is all the more troubling that we continue to see a marked increase in the sharing of unverified information and rumors through various online platforms, especially Facebook — a platform largely utilized by adults. We want to share some recent examples of what we are faced with, in order that everyone understands how this type of information sharing can have negative consequences.

A Few Examples

• An individual posted a screenshot in a public forum of something a student wrote in a private chat. It was not accurate and, without doubt, contributed to increased levels of anxiety among students and staff.
• Another individual posted in a public forum that LHS had video of a student with a gun at school. This was also false.
• Another claimed that members of our staff were “…more concerned about their pay” than about school safety because we did not dismiss students immediately on Wednesday morning, before an investigation of new information was undertaken.
• Another chimed in calling for the termination of our head principal, who always goes the extra mile to ensure his building is safe for staff and students — including his own son.
• After admitting to having no “first-hand knowledge,” one person made the claim that school officials were told that there was a weapon on campus at the most recent homecoming dance but then allowed the dance to continue anyway. This is absolutely false and insulting.

Sadly, there are many more examples than what is shared here.

While we recognize that social media can be a powerful tool for communication and community engagement, it can also be a breeding ground for misinformation, which can have the effect of creating panic and anxiety among our students, staff and parents.

We have to do better. We have to work together to do better.

The rapid spread of rumors and speculation on social media, often from parents who hear things third and fourth hand from their students, can hinder our efforts to conduct thorough, timely and accurate investigations. Sharing unverified information can also compromise the integrity of an investigation, increasing the burden on members of our staff who are simply trying to do their best to keep schools safe.

We Need Your Help

Here are several ways that you, as a parent or community member, can help us navigate the challenges we face every day:

• Wait for Official Communication: In the event of a threat or safety concern, we commit to providing timely and accurate information through the School Messenger system and our social media (Facebook and Instagram). For the reasons outlined above, this is often not as specific as some desire, especially in the midst of an ongoing investigation. Like any organization, we are limited to the information we have at the time of the communication. Decisions made in haste are often bad decisions.

• Understand that we have a Process: We take all potential threats seriously. Even in situations, like we experienced on Wednesday, when we did not have evidence of a direct or indirect threat, we had to take action to facilitate a law enforcement investigation. As stated above, false, misleading and incomplete information posted online make it more difficult for law enforcement and school officials to do their jobs.

• Go Directly to the Source: Our students learn that, if at all possible, they should seek out primary sources of information. This means from sources who are directly connected to the situation, not relying on discussion board fodder. It’s like the old game of telephone many of you played as a child: the farther you get away from the source, the more confused the message becomes. If you have concerns or questions, we encourage you to reach out to the school administration directly or simply wait for the official communication. This is how you can be supportive and informed.

• There’s a Right and a Wrong Way to Use Social Media: Both children and adults often need to be reminded about what the responsible use of social media looks like. Not engaging in rumor-spreading or speculation online is a great first step. Activity online can have real-world negative consequences for students and adults, and we cannot lose sight of that.

Thank you for your time and understanding. If we didn’t think this was incredibly important, we would not have taken the time to share this message. If we work together to promote responsible behavior online and discourage the spread of misinformation, we can create a safer and more secure environment across the District.