Sept. 12, 2024 - Information for families

September 12, 2024

TRANSLATION: DARI | PASHTO | SPANISH | KAREN | VIETNAMESE | RUSSIAN | UKRANIAN

LPS Families,

First, everyone needs to take a moment, pause, and read this information carefully.

Lincoln Police have confirmed there are no active threats towards any of our schools at this time. Please share this with your student if they reach out to you with concerns.

We understand the continued concern around threats of school violence and we appreciate everyone reaching out to Lincoln Police and Lincoln Public Schools with reports of social media posts. 

Lincoln Police and LPS Security have informed us that they have received many reports of the same four screenshots of social media posts as they continue to be shared by students and families. These same screenshots are being shared in school districts across Nebraska and the United States, not just Lincoln.

WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED 

We are not going to share these images with you, but we will describe them so you know what has already been reported. If you see these, you do not need to report them:

• “Targeted Assistance”: This is a list of schools and at the top it has the word “Targeted Assistance”. This is a screenshot from the Georgia Department of Education that lists Title I schools who need academic support, or Targeted Assistance as outlined by the US Department of Education.
• “10:45”: This post is black with white lettering not mentioning a school in the original post (although some might add a school name) and says for parents to post on social media. It indicates there will be something at 10:45. Lincoln Police are aware, and this same screenshot is making the rounds in schools all over Nebraska.
• “Lancaster”: This screenshot has a blue background with firearms and mentions many districts including “Lancaster”. These are school districts in Texas where this post originated.
• “Buckeye Local”: This is a screenshot of a phone with a message about “shooting up the Buckeye Local”. This post originated out of Ohio and is talking about a school there.

REMEMBER: PLEASE REPORT, NOT REPOST 

• Report to trusted law enforcement or school staff of any new threats that are tied to Lincoln. 
• When reporting, include specific details like account name, poster’s real name, social media platform, screenshots, etc.
• Ask the person posting the threat to remove the information if they are reposting it themselves. Lincoln Police and Lincoln Public Schools communications channels are being flooded with the same posts over and over and it is slowing down the investigation process.
• Monitor your child’s technology use. If they have electronic devices, be aware of the conversations your child is having with others. Report any concerns to law enforcement or the school immediately. 
• Remember to view anything shared on social media with a critical lens in an attempt to determine legitimacy. Fact check what you are seeing through reputable sources before sharing information.

We need to work together to limit the disruptions in our schools. Our students need us to provide a stable and safe learning environment for them and their mental health. The best thing we can do for our children is to return to our normal routines. 

We need you to have a conversation with your child about social media and responsible digital citizenship. Reinforce the lessons we teach here at school. Our words and actions matter and all threats will be taken seriously - even those said as a joke. There will be school and legal consequences for students who threaten violence towards others. We take all comments seriously and investigate them fully.

Together we can limit the disruptions to our school day and help students feel supported and safe. School safety takes a community. If you or anyone you know has a safety concern, please tell a trusted staff member, LPS Security or Threat Assessment by using the green Safe to Say button on the LPS website, Safe2Help Nebraska at 833-980-7233, or call Lincoln Police at (402) 441-6000.

Lincoln Public Schools
Security and Communications

 

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