C-NS High School deals with text threat
CICERO -- Police continue to investigate who started a threatening text message that made it's way to many students at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.
Superintendent of North Syracuse School Jerry Melvin says more than 400 students stayed home Monday, that's about 20-percent of students. Classes did go on as scheduled. State police say a text message spread like wild fire Sunday claiming a student had a "hit list" and would act on Monday.
Police went to the home of the student named in the text and searched his home. They say they found nothing.
"These days you can't dismiss even an idle threat or even the mention of a threat," says Sgt. Steven Barlow of the NYS police. "In this instance, there was no direct threat that we were able to substantiate. The student at the school who was mentioned as the one who may have a "hit list" made no threat, sent no text message."
The text message also ended up on Facebook and many concerned parents ended up calling authorities. School officials say the parents of the student are cooperating and kept him home Monday and will continue to do that as the investigation continues.
Classes went on as usual Monday, instead of one school resource officer at the school, there were three.
"I see this as a classic example of cyber bullying and I am concerned that people can send out something like this that creates all kinds of hysteria," said Superintendent Jerry Melvin.
A letter went out to parents on Monday, letting them know about the investigation. Melvin says some parents criticized the district for not posting any information about the situation until 9:30 AM Monday on the district's website. He says they wanted to get all the facts before putting something up, and they felt comfortable they were on top of everything considering police had gone to the home and they knew the student would not be attending class Monday.
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If you have a student attending Cicero-North Syracuse High School you may have heard about a threatening text message making the rounds of students.
North Syracuse School District Superintendent Dr. Jerry Melvin says he and police will be meeting with a C-NS High School student named in the text message and the student's parents today. The student will not be in school pending the outcome of that meeting.
Dr. Melvin is concerned about the incident, "I see this as a classic example of cyber bullying and I am concerned that people can send out something like this that creates all kinds of hysteria."
A CNY Central staffer viewed a copy of the text which warned students not to attend class Monday, and named a student the message claimed put together a 'hit list'. Melvin says they've boosted the number of resource officers at the school to three today.
The district sent out an email/text alert to parents Monday morning regarding the incident. Here is the text of that message:
The State Police and the Sheriff's Office investigated the rumor that a student was going to commit an act of violence at Cicero-North Syracuse High School today. Last night the home of the student was searched. Nothing was found. This rumor was spread via text messages and Facebook.
Mr. Froio contacted the family in question last night. The student will remain home today with his family. Dr. Melvin and Mr. Froio will meet with the family later today.
At this point the investigation is focused on determining the identity of the individual responsible for the spread of this rumor.
A letter will go out to parents from the Superintendent's Office later today.
The school district and police are investigating to determine the origin of the text message. The high school is open and operating on normal schedules.
