Grand Island Public Schools, Courtesy
GRAND ISLAND — You may have heard about a false threat towards schools circulating on social media across the country.
We have felt the emotional impact of that here at GIPS. Many students have shared their concern, especially with the school tragedies the last few weeks. A few of our students have attempted to amplify that message themselves.
Please know that our School Administrators, Counselors, and Security Staff have been working overtime to investigate all reports and provide support to students and families expressing concern. Also, every student who has amplified the message or shared false threats of their own have received necessary consequences.
We are grateful to report that all students and staff have remained safe in our schools. But that does not change the negative impact we have felt due to the unnecessary and careless sharing of the false social media threat.
GIPS is fortunate to have some of the finest safety professionals in the state. We have strong partnerships with the Grand Island Police Department and other safety agencies. Our standard safety protocols follow nationally established best practices. Additionally, we are constantly reviewing and testing our protocols to ensure they deliver on our commitment to keeping all who enter our schools safe.
We all feel the emotional toll the recent school tragedies carry. We see and feel the strain and empathize with you as we navigate these unfortunate events together.
On behalf of GIPS, we want to provide four important and timely reminders:
No matter what, please continue to report any and all threats of violence to our school Administrators, Counselors, Security Officials or the Grand Island Police Department (GIPD) immediately. We take each report seriously and will investigate them fully.
Talk to your children. Words matter and they carry a heavy weight. It is important for us as a team — schools and families unified — to support your children in understanding the ramifications of words, social media posts, text messages, and relationships.
We encourage all of our families to remind your students that statements made along these lines – even when meant as jokes – will be taken seriously and investigated.
Please Note: GIPS has a strict policy on student behavior that causes disruption by using threatening language and will face the appropriate school and legal consequences.
Join us in doing your part to stop the dangerous trend of mass sharing of threatening social media posts or conversations. The mass sharing of this type of information only spreads false information, builds anxiety, and slows down the investigation process.
We have Counseling and Social Work professionals and resources available to you in every GIPS school. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them if and when you would like help in navigating difficult conversations or providing support for your student.
Please know that we want the same things as you — for your students and our staff to feel welcome and safe while they are at school.
If you have questions or would like additional support, we encourage you to reach out to your school Principal, Counselor, or Social Worker. Or, you are always welcome to reach out to the district office directly as well at communications@gips.org or 308.385.5900.
We also encourage all of our staff, students, and families to utilize the 988 Suicide and Crisis hotline as a trusted resource for individuals who are struggling.
Let’s keep each other safe.
Thank you for your support,
– Matt Fisher
GIPS Superintendent
