The Montezuma-Cortez school district on Sunday alerted parents about an online hoax that has created “false narratives about school shootings” since the Sept. 4 school shooting in Georgia.
Classes at Montezuma-Cortez High School and Southwest Open School ended early Wednesday and were canceled Thursday.
On Friday, the Cortez Police Department provided an update to the investigation that followed two lockdowns at Montezuma-Cortez High School, saying that there was no threat found to students or staff.
According to the district’s letter on Sunday, a social media post suggests there could be an “incident related to a fire alarm.”
The post was found by law enforcement to be part of a reported surge in hoaxes since the Georgia school shooting.
“Many schools were forced to cancel classes due to these unfounded threats until they were confirmed as hoaxes, which can be classified as online terrorism,” according to the Montezuma-Cortez letter, which was from “the administrative team of MCSD.”
The letter said law enforcement was working with the FBI to identify people who might be responsible for the posts. The district said that “firm repercussions” will be given to anyone responsible.
It was determined that someone in Cortez had taken the post that originated in Georgia and manipulated the information to “cause panic after last week’s events.”
“Investigations will continue for several weeks, if not longer,” the district said.
The district said it would increase the presence of administrators and law enforcement throughout the campus and at events.
Safety measures include locking perimeter doors and securing classroom doors providing radios to staff, debriefing staff and reviewing fire drill protocols and amplifying metal detector sensitivity and searches. Students also will be limited to lunch on campus until the situation is “fully resolved.”
The district also asked that parents and guardians help monitor their children’s social media activity and speak with their children about spreading false information.
