APS warns students about spreading rumors of violence, suspends 7 at Manzano High
Posted at: 12/19/2012 10:31 AM
By: Tracy Dingmann, KOB.com
The administration at APS has issued a warning for those who've been spreading rumors of violence at Albuquerque schools.
In a statement issued online Wednesday, the administration said that recent rumors of violence at Albuquerque schools are unfounded - and said students who spread rumors of threats could be disciplined.
"Already, seven students at Manzano High School were suspended and others around the district face discipline for disrupting the educational process," the statement said.
The rumors of school violence have come in the wake of last week's deadly shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut and widely-publicized tales that the Mayan calendar forecasts the end of the world on Dec. 21.
"We want to assure the APS community that while we take all threats to students and staff seriously, we have found absolutely no validity to any of these rumors. We understand that school communities are more anxious than usual due to national events such as the Sandy Hook tragedy and buzz over the Mayan calendar, and unfounded rumors are only adding to the tension.
We also recognize that social media and the Internet are causing rumors and gossip to spread quickly even when there is no truth to them. No matter where the rumors come from or what sparks them, our police are taking them seriously and investigating each and every one in effort to keep our students and staff safe.
A lot of time, energy and resources have been used this week chasing what amounts to be gossip. Our investigations have found absolutely no evidence of written threats, suspects, plans, postings or anything else that would threaten the safety of students and staff.
Please help us in assuring students that they are safe at school and that it is important to continue their normal school routines, especially as we wrap up the semester.
As middle and high school students continue to take finals, teaching and learning need to remain priorities at all of our schools.
We encourage students and others to come forward with reasonable concerns for safety at our schools; however, we can’t stress enough that this is a serious matter not to be taken lightly."
You can read the entire statement online at APS's website here.
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