Fall River Public Schools to have increased police presence due to threat

The Fall River School Department is taking action against a social media threat.

According to a statement by School Superintendent Maria Pontes, Fall River Public Schools became aware of a troubling post that has been shared widely on TikTok. The post refers to a threat to school safety for every school in the USA, even elementary, on Friday, December 17.

“The post appears to be part of a national TikTok trend and did not originate in our school district. We have heard reports from other districts that the same post is circulating in their schools. While we do not believe the threat to be credible, we are closely monitoring the situation and taking it seriously.”

Pontes stated that police will be added to schools due to the threat.

“The district has been in contact with the Fall River Police Department regarding the post. Out of an abundance of caution, we will have an increased police presence in and around our buildings on Friday. This situation serves as a good example of why it is important to avoid sharing posts online that refer to school safety threats. Even if they are not credible threats, they can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for our students, families, and staff. We ask our families to monitor their children’s social media activity and speak with them about proper behavior online.”

Pontes went on to say that if you or your child become aware of any potential threat posted to social media or anywhere else, please notify a school staff member or trusted adult right away.