No Specific Threats Against Westport Schools: Superintendent

WESTPORT, CT — District officials are aware of circulating social media posts regarding potential school violence Friday but noted Thursday afternoon they are not credible.

In an email to families, Superintendent Thomas Scarice said the district was informed of a disturbing trend of school violence threats on social media late Wednesday afternoon, however the state Department of Education announced Thursday morning that state law enforcement officials have determined these threats are not credible.

"The posts have not originated in our town and there have been no specific threats to our schools," Scarice said in an email, "however, some of our students have mentioned this trend to faculty and administrators [Thursday]. We are fortunate to have a very effective partnership with our local law enforcement experts, the Westport Police Department."

Scarice said a security guard is assigned to each school in town, a school resource officer is present at Staples High School and the department has assigned an additional police officer dedicated exclusively to the town's school campuses.

Additionally, the department will station an officer outside each school Friday during the school day as a precaution, Scarice said.

"Although these threats are not deemed credible or specific to Westport," Scarice said, "at a minimum, this presence will serve to reassure any members of our school community who might have concerns about this social media trend, particularly for [Friday]."

Scarice also emphasized it was "critically important" that anyone who receives any information related to specific threats to the Westport school community report it to police and the school immediately.

Authorities noted Thursday state police and the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection are closely monitoring a rash of TikTok posts that have been circulating on social media that there will be threats against schools on Friday.

The Connecticut Intelligence Center has been investigating and monitoring the social media trend, but the center has not yet identified any specific or credible threats to any schools within Connecticut.

See also: School Threat Posts On TikTok Under Watch Of CT State Police

• TikTok December 17 Challenge Has Police, Schools On High Alert

"These posts and rumors started on the social media platform TikTok and have been circulating for at least several days across the country, making their way onto additional social media platforms," state police said. "Many law enforcement agencies around the country have received tips related to these rumors. It is possible that the threats originated from a TikTok challenge to skip school on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021."

In addition to law enforcement, the Department of Emergency Services and Public protection and the intelligence center, the state Department of Education also is working on these rumored threats "and providing timely information to all school districts as needed."

Patch has reached out to the Westport Police Department for further information.