School Safety

10/23/2024

Dear Parents or Guardians,

As many of you are aware of HB 1473, the beginning of this school year has brought about new challenges as we work to keep our students and educators safe.  One particular trend that is of great concern across the state is the sharp rise in false report being submitted through FortifyFL.

False Reporting on social media or FORTIFY FL Making a threat on social media is when any person who communicates a threat to kill, do great bodily injury, conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism, in any way or form that other people can view it, including through:

          Direct messages or posting status updates on any social media platform

          Snapchat stories or messages

          Videos on platforms such as YouTube or TikTok

          Gaming servers or chats such as Discord, Steam or Twitch

          Anonymous chat rooms or posting sites such as Whisper and ASKFM

What happens if your child makes a threat on social media? It doesn’t matter if you do not have to have any intent or ability to carry out the threat. Merely communicating a threat is enough to warrant a felony charge.

If you communicate a threat to kill, do great bodily harm, conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism in a way that another person can view it, you are committing a second-degree felony under section 863.10, Florida Statutes.

Some Consequences your child could face are:

• Mandatory school expulsion for a year
• Placement in an alternative school
• Inability to graduate with friends
• Inability to attend functions like prom and football games on any campus in the district
• Paying restitution costs for the police investigation 
• Arrests
• Criminal charges

What if your child or you see a concerning or threatening post on social media?

• Report it on FortifyFL.
• See something, say something. Tell a trusted adult!

What should be reported on FortifyFL?

Submit tips about potential crimes or threats which are sent directly to law enforcement and designated school personnel.

Remember:

• More tip details improve the chances that a situation can be resolved.
• This means including WHO did WHAT, WHERE it happened and WHEN.

Anyone submitting a tip about a threat, including information about a known false report, can *identify themselves or choose to remain anonymous when submitting.

*If you identify yourself in the submission, that information will not be made public.

False reports on FortifyFL are no joke!

Any false report could lead to....

An investigation

If it is found that any person, parent or child, knowingly submitted a false tip through FortifyFL involving school or school personnel’s property, school transportation, or a school-sponsored activity, information on the device used to make the claim will be provided to law enforcement, and the person may be subject to criminal penalties. False threats, even if intended as a joke, can result in life-altering consequences

Remember…

All threats will be taken seriously and will result in severe consequences up to and including arrest, restitution, and expulsion. You are urged to discuss this issue with your children.

False threats, even if intended as a joke, can result in life-altering consequences.

When speaking to your child about posting on social media or falsely reporting a threat, remember to tell them... It’s NO JOKE!

Respectfully,