AMHERST COUNTY, Va. – UPDATE
The Amherst County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that a social media threat against Amherst County schools is not credible.
Authorities say an individual from out of state allegedly hacked into a local social media account and sent the threatening message. On Wednesday night, Amherst County Public Schools staff received more than 30 messages from concerned parents, and the Amherst County Emergency Dispatch center received over 50 calls about the threat.
Out of an abundance of caution, all Amherst County Public Schools were closed Thursday, and all after-school activities were canceled. Remote instruction did not take place.
“As an important reminder, there are potential consequences of making threats under the Code of Virginia and in the ACPS Code of Student Conduct (Policy JFC - Student Conduct),” the school district said. “We ask for the support of our families and community members in helping our students understand the seriousness of these threats and the profound impact they have on our entire school division. By working together, we can help ensure that our schools remain safe.”
Amherst County Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. William Wells, stated that: “The safety of our students, staff, families and community is our top priority. Threats like these are taken seriously and we will continue to work with law enforcement to ensure that our buildings provide a safe and welcoming environment for learning. We appreciate the responsiveness of our students, staff, and families, as well as local law enforcement, regarding this incident. The entire Amherst County Public Schools team is committed to ensuring all students and staff have a safe environment in which to learn and grow.”
Classes will resume as normal on Friday, Nov. 14.
ORIGINAL STORY
Amherst County Public Schools announced on Wednesday that they will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 13, after threats were made on social media.
ACPS said the school administration was made aware of a threat made to the school division on social media on Wednesday night. The Amherst County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the situation.
Authorities said that schools will be closed out of an abundance of caution on Thursday, and all after-school activities are canceled. Classes will take place remotely.
The school district encouraged students and families to report any concerning information directly to the school administration or law enforcement.
ACPS said more information will be shared as it becomes available. If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office or Amherst County Public Schools.
We will update you with more information as it becomes available.