Whatcom schools investigate threats as other non-school-specific threats circulate
Bellingham Public Schools has been dealing with multiple forms of electronic harassment and threats over the past week targeting specific students and school campuses.
Other school districts across Whatcom County have said that non-school-specific threats have also been circulating in the community.
In a message sent to families, staff and students Thursday afternoon, Dec. 9, Bellingham Public Schools Superintendent Greg Baker elaborated on the harassment and threats the district community has been experiencing.
He said the district has experienced harassing Instagram accounts with anti-LGBTQIA+, racist and threatening messages. Baker’s update said the district is taking the threats seriously, is involving law enforcement and that there will be strict consequences based on the district’s Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying policy and procedure. He said while the social media accounts are part of a national trend, the district is following up with every report possible.
At the same time, the district has also experienced electronic messages threatening violence on individual school campuses, including four specifically targeting two Bellingham high schools. District officials have worked with law enforcement to assess the safety level of each threat, and found “no actual plan for physical violence on any of our campuses,” Baker’s update stated.
The district and law enforcement are working to identify the electronic devices that were used to harass school communities. Baker’s update said cyber harassment is a serious offense and law enforcement will be an ongoing presence on the school district’s campuses as the investigation continues.
Baker’s update said the threats are not connected to one another.
“These events have caused disruption to our schools, plus immense anxiety,” Baker’s update stated. “Together, we will get through this. I have received many kind messages advocating for students’ safety. Please know that safety is and has always been our primary responsibility and highest priority.”
The district is sharing all identifying information with local law enforcement because threatening violence is so serious, Baker’s update stated. Local law enforcement may get federal law enforcement involved, he said.
Baker asked families to speak with their children about the seriousness of making threats or harassing others online, which can have legal consequences. He also encouraged families to talk through what their children can do if they know who is responsible for making the threats, including telling a trusted adult.
“We also know that events in our greater community and nation reignite the fears we all have for our children’s safety, not to mention the stress of the continuing pandemic,” Baker’s update states. “We love our students, and their safety is of the utmost importance to us all.”
Bellingham Public Schools’ safety tip line can be reached anonymously by calling or texting 844-310-9560 or online.
The district has also shared resources for parents to talk to their children about going through a lockout or lockdown procedure, and on cell phone use.
Bellingham High threats
Multiple schools across the Bellingham Public Schools district have experienced threats over the past several school days, leading one high school to cancel classes on Thursday, Dec. 9, The Bellingham Herald previously reported.
Bellingham High School was open Thursday for regular classes after threats, that were determined not to be credible, were made against the school on Wednesday, according to a Thursday Bellingham Public Schools update.
In a message shared Wednesday evening, Dec. 8, Bellingham High School Principal Marty Atkins said school officials were aware of threatening Instagram posts that were being sent among students and around the community. Atkins’ update said school officials had seen one post that had a choice between two types of guns (AK and MP5) and another that said there was a verbal threat against the high school.
School officials were working with law enforcement, who agreed with school officials that the social media threats were not credible, Atkins’ update stated. School district officials are working to identify any students involved, the update states.
In his message, Atkins thanked the students and parents who came forward to share the information. He encouraged parents to speak with their children about “social media use and the gravity and consequences of making threats online, which can have serious legal consequences.”
In a follow-up message Atkins shared Thursday, he said he was confident that the work done Wednesday night by school administration and law enforcement addressed the immediacy of the situation. He said in the statement that the Instagram accounts that contained the threatening messages were taken down, and that school officials and law enforcement believed the high school is safe.
“The past day has been challenging for our entire Bayhawk community,” Atkins’ update states. “I’m sorry everyone is having to deal with this situation. It’s unfortunate that social media, which can be such a positive place of connection, can also be used to harass and threaten.”
Sehome threats
Classes were canceled at Sehome High School for Thursday after the school received three threats and went into at least two lockdown/lockout situations in less than a week.
It was the third overall lockdown/lockout situation for a Whatcom County high school.
Sehome went into a roughly one-hour-long lockdown on Wednesday shortly before 1 p.m., The Herald previously reported. Bellingham police later determined the threat wasn’t credible.
Sehome previously went into a modified lockout for nearly two hours Friday, Dec. 3, because a 16-year-old male student brought a Glock-17-style airsoft pistol to school, The Herald previously reported.
The student was released to his parents and charges for possession of a dangerous weapon on school facilities were referred to the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office, according to a previous statement from Bellingham police.
On Monday, Dec. 6, students at Sehome told school staff they received a threatening message via AirDrop, The Herald previously reported. Bellingham police were called for support and the threat was determined not to be credible.
A spokesperson for Bellingham Public Schools did not answer the question of whether students went into a lockdown, lockout or evacuation situation in regards to Monday’s threat.
The district is offering a financial reward of $1,000 for information leading to the identification of the person or people responsible for causing the lockdown at Sehome High School Wednesday afternoon, Baker’s Thursday afternoon message stated.
Shuksan Middle School officials also investigated a report that a student made a threat against the school, according to a Thursday update from Principal Matt Whitten. His update stated school officials were confident the threat isn’t credible.
Students shared they were joking and said they didn’t intend to cause fear or concern, Whitten’s update stated.
“We will follow up with all students and remind them that their words are important and can be taken seriously,” the update stated.
Lockout vs. lockdown
While they are similar, Bellingham Public Schools’ protocols for a lockdown situation versus a lockout situation differ. One Bellingham high school has experienced both protocols over the past four school days.
A lockdown situation is initiated when there may be an immediate threat or hazard near or on the school campus, according to Bellingham Public Schools. Students and staff are moved or stay in their classrooms, sit away from sightlines of the doors or windows, and all doors and windows are locked and covered.
Classroom activities stop until the incident is over. The school office is closed and phones won’t be answered, according to information on Bellingham Public Schools’ website.
In a lockout situation, the exterior doors to the school are locked and students follow protocols for moving throughout the building. Friday’s lockout at Sehome High School was modified because students stayed in the classrooms they were in as of 11 a.m. that day, and didn’t move throughout the building, Dana Smith, a spokesperson for Bellingham Public Schools, previously told The Bellingham Herald.
A lockout is started when there might be a danger outside of the buildings or off campus, according to Bellingham Public Schools. Law enforcement advises the school district on which protocol to follow, Smith said.
It can be difficult to remember that lockout or lockdown protocols can be precautionary, Smith said. Lockdown or lockout protocols are not gone into lightly because of the effects they can have on students’ and staff members’ emotions and mental health, she said.
“It has been a challenging week for sure,” Smith said.
She said the reason the district knows about the threats and harassing behavior online is because students and parents came forward and “shared things that they saw that made them fearful for their community.”
“This is really scary to think about our kids’ safety,” Smith added. “When we are working to build inclusive communities, we know that that is one of the best ways to keep our community safe is when kids feel love and belonging at school. Ninety-five percent of the time that’s where we want our focus to be is helping kids build strong relationships that make them feel included and welcomed and loved at school — and that’s what keeps our communities safest of all.”
Nooksack threat
The Nooksack Valley School District posted a safety message on its website that around 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 8, school staff became aware of a non-school-specific threat that was being circulated through a text chat among middle school students.
A parent sent the district a screenshot of their student’s text conversation, which led the district to call 911, the alert stated. Law enforcement told Nooksack school district officials that the threat was circulating in the Bellingham school district Wednesday night and was starting to filter into social media networks across county schools, the alert stated.
The Nooksack school district coordinating with law enforcement to increase its presence at schools for Thursday. The district said it would reassess as the day progresses.
“We know that these situations can be incredibly frightening and frustrating for a community. Student and staff safety is our number one priority and we will continue to work closely with local and county law enforcement to ensure our schools are able to attend to the important business of learning and healthy development,” the Nooksack safety message stated.
Ferndale threat
A student who reportedly brought a weapon to Ferndale High School, forcing the school into a three-hour-long lockdown last week on Wednesday, Dec. 1, turned himself in to law enforcement Thursday, Dec. 2, according to previous reporting in The Herald.
The weapon was seized and confirmed to be a BB gun. Ferndale Police said in a joint statement with the Ferndale School District that it expected to file criminal charges against the student, whose name has not been released, with the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office, The Herald previously reported.
The Ferndale School District did not respond to questions from The Herald Thursday about whether any of the district schools had received additional threats.
Other Whatcom schools
Blaine School District Superintendent Christopher Granger told The Herald Thursday that the district had not received any credible threats as of Thursday afternoon.
He said district officials were aware of what was happening across Whatcom County in regards to threats to local schools, and that district officials were being diligent.
The district is prepared and ready to respond if needed and officials have also been speaking with local law enforcement as a precaution, Granger said.
Meridian School District shared in a message on its website Thursday that while they are aware of the threats made toward other schools across Whatcom County, Meridian schools have not been directly impacted. The district’s message said it takes threats of violence and the safety of students and staff very seriously.
The Meridian tip line can be reached online.
Mount Baker School District Superintendent Mary Sewright told The Herald Thursday that she was not aware of any threats the district had received.
The Lynden School District did not respond to questions from The Herald Thursday asking if any of the schools in the district had received recent threats.
The Herald has reached out to the Bellingham Police Department and Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office for more information.
This story was originally published December 9, 2021 at 9:31 AM.
