PALMYRA, Va. (WVIR) – Fluvanna County Public Schools are now on the other side of a social media threat that delayed the start of school yesterday, August 21st.
This week, the Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the threats made against Fluvanna Middle School. Everyone is safe and the out-of-state teens who made the threats have been identified, according to the sheriff’s office.
Both the schools and the sheriff’s office appreciate the Fluvanna students and their parents who reported the situation directly to authorities.
“I consider it a very successful operation,” said Don Stribling, executive director of Fluvanna County Public Schools. “But we do this every day. We have many different safety protocols and procedures in place and we do it every day at a high level and that is the expectation.”
Stribling says the response to Wednesday’s threat is an example of why quick communication is so important.
“The Sheriff’s Department notified dispatch personnel that there was a threat of violence against Fluvanna Middle School during an audio call made via the social media platform Snapchat,” Stribling said.
That’s when Fluvanna students heard threats to “blow up” and “shoot up” the school. Students who participated on the phone told their parents, who then reported it to the police.
“When we receive such information, we communicate with our leadership team and begin preparations,” Stribling said. “As a precautionary measure, we have decided to implement a two-hour delay.”
Stribling says the middle school is currently under surveillance by the sheriff’s department.
“Families have reached out to us and basically asked the question, ‘Do you really believe there is no threat?'” said Darren McCauley, assistant principal at Fluvanna County High School. “I was able to tell them without reservation that I absolutely and truly believe the threat has passed, that they have taken care of it and that I personally had no issues coming to school today.”
Captain Aaron Hudd of the Fluvanna Sheriff’s Office was up all night investigating the threat. In a statement to 29 News, Captain Hudd wrote, “The students did a good job of making statements reporting to a trusted adult and the parents also heard the information and reported it directly to the Sheriff’s Office.”
Kyle Gravitt, assistant principal at Fluvanna County High School, says it was business as usual.
“I speak as a parent and as an employee,” Gravitt said. “I know that what we have in place to protect our children works, and I trust our department to keep our children safe.”
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