Rutherford County Schools Director says two students arrested for making false reports about school threats

Dr. Jimmy Sullivan standing outside the Rutherford County Schools Board of Education building (Photo by Rutherford County Schools)

Rutherford County Schools Director Dr. Jimmy Sullivan posted a video message on social media to parents Tuesday afternoon in response to the arrests of two students he says made false reports about school threats.

“Parents we are asking for your help. Please talk to your children about the severe consequences of making threats, even if it’s intended to be a joke or prank. Please encourage them to think before posting or to report any concerning behavior they see online,” said Sullivan in the video.

Sullivan says in the past two weeks the district has seen nearly 20 verbal and social media threats targeting schools, including the two that led to arrests. He says in a majority of these cases, students amplified the threats by spreading unsubstantiated online rumors.

“Some even recorded selfie videos to further spread the rumors even though they knew they had no direct knowledge or proof and unfortunately, those students had to be disciplined as well,” said Sullivan.

Rutherford County Schools is the second Middle Tennessee School district to send a message to parents about false school threats on social media in recent days.

Last week leaders with Williamson County Schools sent an email to parents to debunk a “school threat list” students there have been spreading. That threat list turned out to have nothing to do with school threats and the schools on it were actually located in Georgia.

In both counties these threats caused concern for parents and Sullivan says they also wasted resources. He said Rutherford County Schools has to take school threats seriously and investigate them with law enforcement.

“When there’s a threat or false rumor, they cause significant disturbances in learning, are intolerable, and have serious repercussions. These actions are dangerous and harmful. They cause parents to worry and upset students within the school community. These types of actions drain valuable resources from both our schools and our law enforcement partners,” said Sullivan.

In his video message Sullivan pleaded with parents to encourage kids to report any threats to school officials instead of spreading them on social media.

The district is also encouraging parents and students to download the STOPit App that can be used to report threats.