SUAMICO, WI (WTAQ) – Students and teachers at Bay Port High School went about their day as normal Thursday, despite it being the targeted date for violence earlier in the week.
In a letter sent to families Tuesday, Principal Mike Frieder explained that rumors of a threat started in student conversations and spread through student social media accounts.
Another student created a fake webpage entitled, “Bay Port High School Massacre.”
Brian Nicol, communications coordinator for the Howard Suamico School District says things went smoothly Thursday despite attendance being down.
“Our collaboration along with the Brown County Sheriff’s Department, in terms of the investigation of the initial threat, really helped us to be as transparent as we could be.”
The threats were found to have no credibility and the protocol the district had in place was successful.
“We felt like that process that we adhered to, allowed us to maintain a safe environment today for students,” said Nicol.
Nicol focuses on the positive after an event like this.
“There’s teachable moment opportunity for students and parents to engage in those crucial conversations about appropriate social media use and the impact of rumors.”
Thursday was the 18th anniversary of the Columbine shooting massacre that killed 12 students and one teacher in Littleton, Colorado.
