Shen locked down due to possible threat by student; investigation reveals no real threat

PHOTOGRAPHER: Tatiana Zarnowski

Shenendehowa High School locked down this morning because of an apparently threatening comment a student allegedly made on a social media site, district officials said in a release.

State police investigated and found there wasn’t a real threat, so the lockout was lifted.

Communications that happen off campus, including on the Internet, can be investigated by the school district under the state Dignity for all Students Act “if it creates a hostile environment, a risk of a substantial disruption at school and it is foreseeable that the conduct, threats, intimidation or abuse might reach school property,” according to the law.

In the statement, district officials said: “The district takes any and all threatening or harassing statements seriously and will investigate them to the fullest extent of the law. We trust that today’s event did not create any unwarranted concerns or anxieties. The health and safety of students and school personnel is a top priority.”