December 16, 2021
Administrators and Superintendents across the country are learning of new, national TikTok social media activity that threatens violence in schools on Friday, December 17.
While this trend or threat did not originate in our district and has no link to Penn-Delco whatsoever, we are informing the community for reassurance and assistance. To be clear, no students in the Penn-Delco School District are connected to any specific post, and of course we need to keep it that way. This is sadly yet another byproduct of national trends around social media misuse that continues to run amok.
Although we are not aware of any threat to our district, in an abundance of caution, we are scheduling additional police presence at each of our schools tomorrow.
We ask that parents and guardians reiterate to your child that social media posts suggesting threats or violent actions should never be reposted or considered humorous. Threats of any kind are a crime and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Any threatening behavior, in-person or online, will be met with disciplinary action aligned with our school code of conduct and could lead to criminal prosecution.
Students in our schools should continue to “say something if they see or hear something”, and are also encouraged to speak up or use the PA Safe2Say reporting system if they learn of potential threats of violence.
Everyone who works or attends our schools deserve to know that schools remain some of the safest places around, and will only open when we have complete confidence in the safety of all.
Thank you for your continued support of our schools and for your calm and reassurance to children and students at this time.
Sincerely,
Dr. George Steinhoff, Superintendent
