Skagway college takes further precautions due to viral TikTok risk | KHNS Radio
A recent social media challenge prompted students to commit violent acts in schools across the country on Friday, December 17. Skagway School responded by notifying parents and increasing the police presence.
The school administration told KHNS on Friday that they were not expecting any violence in Skagway. But Superintendent Josh Coughran says he thinks it is best to be prepared.
“In Skagway there was never a credible threat, there was no threat at all. We wanted to make sure parents knew that this was happening at the national level. I immediately contacted Chief Redick and the Skagway Police Department and asked for an increased presence here to be as careful as possible, ”said Coughran.
He says the threats started out as TikTok challenges. The first thing he became aware of was the challenge of destroying school property by destroying bathroom fixtures or ripping escape route signs from the ceiling.
“The next TikTok challenge that we are aware of was the Slap-a-Teacher challenge. And so children should be able to film themselves if they go up and slap a teacher, ”said Coughran.
He says that many of the older Skagway school kids use the TikTok app, but he also says that he hasn’t seen any violence at all in his nearly two decades at school.
“Aside from the very rare verbal mockery, I’ve never seen a physical fight between students here,” said Coughran.
But he suggested that no one expected violence at his school, and yet it does happen sometimes.
Skagway Police Chief Jerry Reddick told KHNS that increased police presence in the area was a precaution that would help children and parents feel safer at school on Friday.
“I’ll be here for most of the day. I have another officer staying near town just so we can have at least a double presence. We’ll be able to have a third officer if necessary. But if there was a threat now we would of course help seal off the school and handle any situation, ”said Reddick.
Coughran says the school’s policy is to stay prepared and vigilant even when violence is not likely.
“We have carried out active target practice in the past. We plan to hold another this spring in collaboration with law enforcement agencies. It’s sad that we have to prepare for it, but we would be irresponsible if we didn’t. ” Coughran also said the school board did the so-called ALICE protocol.
“We train our staff and students to get out of the situation whenever possible when there is an armed intruder. Your best defense is not to hide in the corner but to open the window and go to a gathering point that for us is the Skagway Leisure Center, ”said Coughran.
Superintendent Coughran sent a letter to parents Thursday detailing the school’s potential threat and response. He says there were a couple of parents asking if he should close school and a couple of unexpected Friday absences, but most students and parents went about their school day as normal. After all, Friday is pizza day at noon.
UPDATE: No incidents were reported on Friday.
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