GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — After classes are canceled at Forest Hills Northern High School because of an anonymous top on the site OKAY2SAY, school safety experts are giving tips on what to do when parents or students hear about possible threats.
The National Association of School Resource Officers Executive Director Mo Canady says the number of threats made toward schools is increasing. He says the threats can be disruptive because some lead to school cancellations.
"There's been a massive increase in these types of threats. It has been ongoing. You know, I would say since the pandemic, these things have really started picking up. To close school, you know, costing a day or two of education, which is critically important,” said Canady.
So, how can we prevent these threats?
Canady says it can start with interactions on social media.
"When you get information like that on social media, or you receive a text from a friend, the next worst thing you can do is now post it somewhere else or a share it further on social media, it becomes kind of a firestorm,” said Canady.
Instead, share it with school resource officers, faculty and other school staff so that officials can look into the threat as quickly as possible.
He also says by creating a positive relationship between students, teacher and school staff, those reporting these threats can feel confident that when they say something, actions will be taken.
"Through those good relationships, get students in a place where they're comfortable in that relationship with the adults in school, to be able to, kind of, as the mantra goes, see something, say something, and the sooner someone says something to us, the better off,” said Canady.
He also says if schools can create a team designated to investigating threats, it can help officials look into the threats quicker, and possibly prevent schools from canceling class.
But he adds that there is no “one size fits all” solution to school threats and parents and students should trust schools will make the right decision each time.