Sikeston Public Schools made aware of threats circulating social media; police presence increased throughout district

SIKESTON — Sikeston Public Schools has been made aware of several school threats circulating social media platforms, the district said Thursday, Sept. 12.

“We are currently working with Sikeston Department of Public Safety and keeping them informed of the post circulating social media,” district officials said via the district’s official Facebook page Thursday afternoon. “If anyone does receive or have information about these posts, they can be reported to Courage2Report and the threat will be investigated.”

Sikeston Public Schools and Sikeston DPS were notified by Courage2Report of hoax threats circulating the country, the district said, noting there is an increased police presence throughout the district.

Natalie Coppage, marketing and communications specialist for Sikeston Public Schools, said Sikeston R-6 parents received the same message via the district’s communication platform prior to the district’s Facebook post.

“The safety of our students is, as always, our top priority,” the district’s message said.

The threats on Thursday, Sept. 12 come as other school districts in Southeast Missouri are also receiving threats.

On Wednesday, Sept. 11 an alleged threat had reportedly advised Poplar Bluff R-1 students to stay home.

“Poplar Bluff Police Department officials were notified and conducted a threat assessment,” Superintendent Dr. Aaron Cornman said in a statement to parents. “Authorities have notified the district that the post was made in an effort to ‘warn friends’ in relation to the recent shooting in a neighborhood in Doniphan that caused their school district to go into lockdown protocols and take precautionary measures.”

Cornman said the district greatly appreciates the quick response of Poplar Bluff law enforcement officials and applauds their efforts to work with the district.

“The Poplar Bluff School District wishes to stress the importance of appropriate social media behavior, and we ask that parents take this opportunity to discuss with their child(ren) that same sentiment,” Cornman said.

Students who engage in this type of rhetoric face both discipline through the school district and possible prosecution.

Missouri State Highway Patrol had also informed Poplar Bluff schools Wednesday that alleged threats of school violence were circulating through social media platforms across the country and state, with no credibility.

Twin Rivers dealt with an incident Tuesday, Sept. 10 similar to the national situation, when an anonymous and cryptic post was made through Facebook and TikTok regarding the Fisk campus. The district responded with increased law enforcement presence Wednesday.

An incident Monday, Sept. 9 at Doniphan schools was not directly related to the district. A non-fatal shooting occurred in a neighborhood near the Doniphan campus. As a precaution, the campus was put on lockdown for about 20 minutes.

Anyone with information is encouraged to report it to local law enforcement through the Courage2Report School Violence Hotline. The hotline can be reached through the Missouri State Highway Patrol website by toll-free text at 738477, or by calling 1-866-748-7047. The Courage2Report form is available here: https://www.p3campus.com/tipform.aspx?ID=5250#

The Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff contributed to this article.