Whitman-Hanson student to face discipline after FBI alerts police to social media post

HANSON — Whitman-Hanson Regional High School was placed on a stay-put order Monday April 7 after a student allegedly made a threatening post on social media, according to officials.

The FBI notified Hanson Police of the threat at approximately 1 p.m. and the school was immediately placed on a stay-put order out of an abundance of caution, Hanson Police Chief Michael Miksch, Whitman Police Chief Timothy Hanlon and Superintendent Jeffrey Szymaniak wrote in a press release.

Hanson and Whitman Police identified the student who allegedly made the post and deemed it non-credible. The school lifted the stay-put order at around 1:25 p.m., according to officials.

The perceived threat, which was posted on Snapchat, was allegedly made by a student at the school, Szymaniak wrote in an email to families. It is unclear what the student posted or how the FBI became aware of the post.

Families asked to educate students about misuse of social media

Police and officials from the school district asked families to educate students about the consequences and dangers of misusing social media.

“Students need to be mindful when using social media that platforms are monitored and their words can be taken out of context and cause alarm,” Szymaniak said.

Will student face disciplinary action?

According to officials, the student will face disciplinary actions in accordance with the district’s student code of conduct. The incident remains under investigation by the Hanson Police Department

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Whitman-Hanson student to face discipline over post found by FBI