School Safety
Campbell County Public Schools Response to Social Media Threats: Letter from the Superintendent
October 10, 2024
Dear Campbell County Families and Staff,
I want to address a recent increase of social media threats that have been circulating across the nation and have now reached our community. Recently, some of our schools have received concerning messages that have been seen by students, parents, and staff. These threats are alarming and aim to instill fear and disrupt our learning environment.
As your superintendent, I want to reassure you that the safety of our students, staff, and school communities is our utmost priority. Our schools remain safe, and we are committed to fostering a welcoming and productive learning environment. We ask for your support in addressing any threats-whether verbal, written, or online-by reporting them immediately. Together, we can stand united against such disruptions. Remember: report, not repost!
Key Safety Measures:
Campbell County Public Schools has implemented comprehensive safety protocols, including:
• Collaboration with Local Law Enforcement: Our central office staff and school administrators work closely with the Campbell County Sheriff's Office to ensure safety.
• School Resource Officers: Each school has a dedicated School Resource Officer.
• Visitor Management Systems: All schools are equipped with Raptor visitor management systems, and all exterior doors remain locked at all times.
• Surveillance: Our campuses are monitored 24/7 with surveillance cameras.
• Crisis Management Training: All staff members receive training in crisis management.
Responding to Threats:
We take all threats-whether verbal, written, or on social media-very seriously. Each report is thoroughly investigated by our team and local law enforcement, and those responsible will face serious consequences. Threats violate both school policies and local laws. Any person who knowingly communicates such a threat is guilty of a Class 6 felony.
Impact on Our Schools:
Threats can significantly disrupt school operations, affecting the teaching and learning process and creating unnecessary anxiety in our community. Responding to threats uses valuable resources from the school division and law enforcement in terms of time and personnel; resources that are better used serving others in need.
Safety is Everyone's Responsibility:
• Students: If you receive a threat, do not share it further. Instead, inform a school official or parent immediately. Sharing such messages only adds to the disruption.
• Parents: Please discuss the importance of reporting any concerns directly with you or a school official and encourage responsible online behavior while monitoring your child's social media activity.
• Staff: It is imperative that all staff members report any potential threats to school administration or the School Resource Officer without delay. Every adult is responsible for protecting students and each other.
We appreciate your cooperation to ensure a safe and secure learning environment for all of our students. Together, let's work to keep our schools places where every student can thrive, focus on learning, and reach their full potential.
Thank you for your continued support.
Superintendent
Campbell County Public Schools
School and student safety is always our main priority. Having a uniform, planned, and practiced response to any incident is the foundation of a safe school.
CCPS has adopted the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) for the 2023-2024 school year. This protocol is approved by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety (VCSCS). Our School Resource Officers have played an integral part in training our administrators and teachers in the new protocols. They will also continue participating in our ongoing safety drill and exercises and helping our students understand the SRP in their schools.
The SRP is action-based, flexible, and easy to learn. It rationally organizes tactics for response to weather events, fires, accidents, intruders and other threats to personal safety.
The SRP’s development was created with extensive collaboration between experts such as first responders, public safety, school, districts, and communities. Its tactics are data-driven, researched and based on experience and contemporary practices.
The benefits of SRP become quickly apparent. By standardizing the vocabulary, all stakeholders can understand the response and status of the event.
For students, this provides continuity of expectations and actions throughout their educational career. For teachers, this becomes a simpler process to train and drill.