Update: Snapchat threat that closed all Pelham schools result of ‘nationwide viral social media challenge,’ say police
The social media threat that closed all Pelham schools Friday was the result of a “nationwide viral social media challenge,” according to police.
“There were no direct or specific threats to the Pelham school district,” said a Nixle alert from the Pelham Police at 3:10 p.m. “Further police investigation concluded the social media post was similarly directed toward multiple out of state schools with the similar PMS abbreviation as the Pelham Middle School.”
A text message was sent to parents at 7:05 a.m. that at the time said all schools would be shifting to remote instruction due to a threat on Snapchat directed at Pelham Memorial High School.
An automated voice call from interim Superintendent Dr. Dennis Lauro said that due to the inability to set up access to Google Meets, students would do assignments on their own. In a separate message, PMHS Principal Mark Berkowitz said teachers would be posting assignments.
Friday’s announcement followed an email from the district on Thursday regarding a national trending TikTok video about a school shooting. The district email said that this video was not specific to Pelham and there was no reason for concern.
“As a continued precaution, you will see a heightened police presence next week in and around the schools,” said the Pelham Police in the latest message.
A Snapchat post in late October that was perceived to be a threat by some PMHS students and parents, along with the circulation by students of several unsubstantiated and unrelated rumors on Nov. 1, caused many to leave the school that day before the end of classes. Pelham Police later said the Snapchat post itself was not a threat.
Georgia Russello is a graduate of Pelham Memorial High School's class of 2022. In addition to writing for the Examiner, she was a member of the Science...
Bob Shepherd • Dec 17, 2021 at 10:42 am
As we have no idea what the threat was, as once again I believe that litigation is the main reason for holding back vital information of such incidents in the past to parents and students alike. I believe that the PMHS administration is shameful in their attempt (or lack of) in ensuring that all staff and students attending the school have all the tools required knowledge wise to know what to do if a mass shooting attempt for example should ever occur. It’s actually a plus to have these red flags (be it shooting, bombing, kidnapping etc) to react to, no matter how individuals may find it frustrating or wish to play it down. But there will be (and have been) times in American schools and work places where there are no red flags to alert anyone prior to a shooting. Given all that’s been going on at the school in previous months, I find it astonishing that the school admin along with their security provider still to this point, have no intention in teaching staff and students alike at PMHS the options based drills that have proven to work for decades now around the world, including today in many American schools and businesses. As opposed to the outdated “tick in the box” lockdown only drills. I think that it’s time that PMHS administrators remove their rose tinted glasses, and actually see that their school is just as vulnerable as any other school in the USA, for the reasons that I’ve mentioned in this newspaper recently.
richard hertz • Dec 17, 2021 at 4:35 pm
more pay for no work. gotta love civil service