Dear Monrovia Unified School District Families:
The Monrovia Unified School District has become aware of troubling posts that have been shared widely this week on the social media platform TikTok. The posts refer to a threat to school safety on Friday, December 17.
The posts are part of a national TikTok trend and did not originate in our schools or district and are not specific to Monrovia Unified. We have heard reports from other districts that the same posts are circulating in their communities. While we do not believe the threat to be credible, we are closely monitoring the situation and taking it seriously. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority.
Additionally, the district has been in contact with the Monrovia Police Department (MPD) regarding this matter. MPD will have an increased presence around our campuses throughout the school day on Friday as an added precaution.
This situation serves as a good example of why it is important to avoid sharing posts online that refer to school safety threats. Even if they are not credible threats, they can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for our students, families, and staff. We ask our families to monitor their children’s social media activity and speak with them about proper behavior online.
If you or your child become aware of any potential threat posted to social media or anywhere else, please notify a school staff member, trusted adult, or law enforcement right away.
As always, thank you for your partnership as we work to ensure a safe, secure, and positive learning environment for our students.
Sincerely,
Ryan D. Smith, Ed.D.