Goshen Police investigate threat against ‘GHS’
GOSHEN, Ind.. -- Goshen Police have investigated a threat against ‘GHS’ that was made on social media for Friday.
Their investigation, with the assistance of the FBI, determined the threat was for a school in California with the same initials.
Goshen Schools have decided to have an additional police presence at Goshen High School out an abundance of caution.
Goshen Schools sent the following to parents:
Thursday, December 16, 2021
Dear Families,
Earlier today, Goshen Community Schools sent out this message:
Today, school and police department officials became aware of a statement of concern written on social media. The statement indicated a threat toward “GHS”, specifically for Friday. The threat has been investigated by Goshen Police, with the assistance of the FBI, and they found that the threat originated from California directed at a school in their jurisdiction with the same initials (GHS). The GCS administration, in cooperation with the Goshen Police Department, has decided to have additional police presence at GHS. Keeping with our tradition of transparency, we wanted to make the community aware of the situation and the extra precautions in place. Rest assured, the school district and law enforcement officials always work together to ensure the safety of all students and staff, and we will continue to be diligent in our efforts to do so. Thank you to the entire community for partnering with us for the safety and well-being of every Goshen resident.
Since then, Goshen Community Schools, surrounding school districts, and schools across the country have become aware of a troubling post that has been shared widely this week on the social media platform TikTok. The post refers to a threat to school safety “for every school in the USA, even elementary,” on Friday, December 17.
The post appears to be part of a national TikTok trend and did not originate in our school district. We have heard reports from other local districts that the same post is circulating in their schools. While we do not believe the threat to be credible, we are closely monitoring the situation and taking it seriously.
Additionally, the district is in contact with the Goshen Police Department regarding the posts. We will have an increased police presence across our district on Friday as an added precaution.
Parents who wish to keep their students home have the right to do so. Please notify your school and excuse your student(s) for the day. Students who will miss one or more finals should contact their teachers to make arrangements for their final exams after the break.
This situation serves as a good example of why it is important to avoid sharing posts online that refer to school safety threats. Even if they are not credible threats, they can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for our students, families, and staff. We ask our families to monitor their children’s social media activity and speak with them about proper behavior online.
If you or your child become aware of any potential threat posted to social media or anywhere else, please notify a school staff member or trusted adult right away.
As always, thank you for your partnership as we work to ensure a safe, secure, and positive learning environment for our students.
Sincerely,
Dr. Steven Hope
GCS Superintendent