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Harford County Schools To 'Remain Vigilant' on Dec. 21

With rumors circulating that Friday marks the “end of the world," Teri Kranefeld, Harford County Public Schools Communication Manager, made the following statement to parents on Thursday, Dec. 20.

Parents of Harford County Public Schools students received a call on Dec. 20 that said the following, in response to threats related to rumors regarding the end of the world on Dec. 21.

As you may be aware, rumors have begun to surface via media and social media regarding tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 21. All rumors related to Harford County Public Schools are immediately investigated for credibility by our Safety and Security Office and local law enforcement agencies.

At this time, none of the rumors have been deemed credible; however, we will remain vigilant in investigating all rumors. Please know that Harford County Public Schools is working with law enforcement agencies, as a precaution, to provide an increased police presence around schools throughout the day tomorrow. While you may physically see some of the police presence, other security measures will not be visible by design. All Harford County Public Schools will operate on a normal schedule tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 21.

Please assist us in managing any rumors by talking with your child about responsible social media use, if appropriate, as rumors originate in that forum and can cause undue stress on the school community. Thank you in advance for your cooperation, together we can help keep our schools a safe and comfortable learning environment for our children. This is Teri Kranefeld for Harford County Public Schools.

Lady December 21, 2012 at 11:53 am
Teri needed to give us more information. I am going to find a way to contact her to let her know that her message caused more worry than not.
Donna December 21, 2012 at 11:56 am
I agree with Jeff and Dan. It was a very strange message and when I reread it in my email, it left me with the feeling of what they weren't telling us. My kids are staying home today - half day anyway!
BK December 21, 2012 at 12:11 pm
I have to agree. I was not aware of any rumors. I asked my child about it and she was not aware of any either. The phone call and email left me feeling like they weren't telling me something. My child is home today. Too much going on in schools now a days to leave an open message like that......
KB02 December 21, 2012 at 12:20 pm
I wasn't aware of any rumors until I got the message yesterday while sitting at work. I had mixed emotions, but I decided that we can't live our lives in fear.
Deuteronomy 31:6 says.... Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Now our politicians may have taken GOD out of our schools, but they can't take him from our hearts. The doubters may question, where was god last week? Well he was with each and everyone one of those children and teachers who died. He embraced them and welcomed them to heaven. By keeping our children home we are promoting fear and I belive Fear kills....
Karl Schuub December 21, 2012 at 01:11 pm
The schools are feeding right into the crazy mindset of the few that make threats. Suggesting that people are free to keep thier kids home is irresponsible and whimpy and only emboldens the bullies.
Patricia M December 21, 2012 at 01:33 pm
You are so right KB02, people are questioning how God let this tragedy happen. If you are a Christian and believe in good, then you know that evil also exists. This was an act of pure evil, not one of a loving God. I am certain he was there with arms open to welcome those 26 new Angels
Todd M. Lynch December 21, 2012 at 02:10 pm
I cant believe you folks are serious. Do you not realize how many unfounded rumors are received and reported daily in our area schools? No? That is because they are investigated and deemed unfounded. And no, you dont have the right to hear about every one of them. And yes, many lead to charges. Because the schools and the police do their job. This instance they received more than the normal volume of threats and rumors, therefore it spread to the student body, and then home. So they had to address it, and did so very well if you ask me. Had theyignored it like most as an off the wall threats, which is what these usually are, you all would have wanted someones head!!! If you dont think your child is safe, find an alternative for their education. Mine went to school today because the school showed me that they have the most effective security system/procedure In place, they received some rumors, investigated and found them to be just that...rumors, and called and emailed us all the results of that investigation to quell our fears. Job well done in my book. So until they develop clairvoyance and can see the threat coming, I take what they are doing as best practice and pray my kids stay safe. Maybe you should too.
And find something else to do but spend every moment bashing and trolling on the Patch.
Andrea December 21, 2012 at 02:15 pm
My middle school-aged daughter also said she heard someone threatened to bring a gun to school. My middle school-aged son had heard nothing when I asked. She stated she did not know which school. The intent...being pro-active in communicating with parents in an effort to re-assure...was spot-on. It failed, though, because they left everyone very curious and concerned about what the rumors were. To state that they investigated but found nothing to suggest the rumor was credible...but we will have extra police everywhere tomorrow...without stating what the threat was is EXTREMELY alarming. Not only that, how are we supposed to assist with rumor management if we don't know what the heck we are talking about? That was a ridiculous request given we were not provided with any specific information.
matt schroeder December 21, 2012 at 02:16 pm
Everyone who kept their kids home, do yourselves a favor and look on facebook for some friends in another state with children. Look at the postings for their school systems...this is happening everywhere. The call was easy to understand, they informed us there were unfounded RUMORS going around and they advised us they determined they were not credible. How on earth can all of the whiners above not get that? Would you have preferred they ignored the RUMOR and you had to hear it from your child/neighbor? Get a life HC!
Andrea December 21, 2012 at 02:29 pm
I agree that we don't need to know about every rumor that is received, investigated, and deemed not credible. I have faith in the security protocols in place and my kids went to school today. However, if HCPS makes the decides it is necessary to bring a threat to parents' attention as they did in this case, they need to provide complete and transparent information or they will absolutely fail if their goal is to diminish or eliminate undue concern. Observation: There is no need to judge people for expressing their opinions just because you don't share them by getting personal and characterizing them as trolling and bashing. That post contained the only bashing I observed...no one else, whether they liked the way the situation was handled or they didn't, expressed their thoughts in a manner that was disrespectful to anyone else.
Andrea December 21, 2012 at 02:34 pm
Nevermind...now we have more name-callers. What a shame that people can't just state their opinion without personally attacking others.
patti December 21, 2012 at 03:29 pm
HCPS was facing a lose/lose. If they did not address the rumors, parents would scream that they withheld information. Now that they made an announcement, parents are screaming that they fed into the frenzy. I appreciated the information, and made the decision that was right for my family. Why does it need to be analyzed? Send them to school or don't. As a parent that is your call.
HC Resident December 21, 2012 at 03:45 pm
Problem is - the message was not clear. If you have a middle schooler or high schooler who can fill in the gaps for you, you may not realize the message was not clear. If you have a Kindergartner and 1st grader like myself and ddn't get the message until late in evening after returning from work, you may find the message unclear since your 5 and 6 yr olds don't frequent social media sites. Therefore, you may not know what "rumors" have been circulating and what the "threat" is.
Lauren December 21, 2012 at 03:46 pm
This is reality people... The world we live in. You can't put your children in a bubble and pretend it isn't real. TALK to your kids!!! That's the problem... No one talks anymore...
HC Resident December 21, 2012 at 03:47 pm
and last thing you want to have to do is scour the very social media sites they said are responsible for said "rumors" to find out the gaps.
HC Resident December 21, 2012 at 04:03 pm
As I said, some of us have *little* kids who can't tell us what is going on. And I have no interest in telling my 5 yr old about it - all it will do is scare her.
EJones December 21, 2012 at 04:24 pm
It's a good thing you sent her to public school so she doesn't learn sentence structure and grammar from you. The rumors circulating are just rumors! Nothing is happening today - the deputies have confirmed that everything has been concocted on Facebook!
Rhonda December 21, 2012 at 04:34 pm
I don not have a child in school (thank god) he Graduated last year.... I think they should use the Natioal Guard that our tax dollars are paying for anyway and put them at all the schools in the US... Stricter gun control is not going to help. the bad guys are going to find a way to get a gun if they realy want one. Putting am armed solder at the doors might make some one thin twice before entering our schools and hurtting your childern.
JG December 21, 2012 at 04:40 pm
I just feel that the message that went out to HCPS parents could have been worded better. I believe the message started panic in parents. I didn't hear anything about the rumors from my middle school and high school children. The message left me feeling uneasy and full of unanswered questions. I hope the school system learns from this incident, that presentation/wording of information is critical in allowing parents to make their own educated decision about their children"s safety.
patti December 21, 2012 at 04:42 pm
HC- I have opened a dialog with my Elementary aged child, because he had heard things in school, from other children. I want to be the source of information, not the confused version from another child. That aside, there is no way that any parent can know what to say and how to say it, because we can't wrap our own heads around it.
I received the "robo" call, and was not shocked but saddened to hear it. Being aware of the climate right now, as it relates to recent events we as parents must understand that these "school officials" are negotiating a tough situation. I don't know if it was handled flawlessly, but these are situations that I believe officials are making choices based on the best information they have. Most of these teachers, and administrators are also parents. I think that we all need to take a step back. Focus on keeping our children happy and safe, and appreciate that the intent of our school officials is the same.
Cornelius December 21, 2012 at 05:11 pm
The pussification of America is truely observed in the majority of the sheep's comments in this article.
Karl Schuub December 21, 2012 at 05:25 pm
Quit smothering kids with concern. Sort of odd that the apparent method for protecting kids from harm is to wallow in it; immerse them in fear about it and talk about it endlessly.
Todd M. Lynch December 21, 2012 at 05:55 pm
The rumors were many, varied and non specific. And were everywhere. Therefore the message addressed that specifically. No need to give specifics of wild rumors and put an idea into a whack jobs head to go do something he hadnt already thought of. Come on folks, these people are trained for this stuff...they dont do this on the fly and off the cuff. If you dont like the job they are doing, get yourself elected/hired/appointed to do it.
T Peter December 21, 2012 at 05:57 pm
Dear Lord! What is wrong with some of you parents?? The "end of the world" was predicted and rumored for the past many years! It stems from some ridiculous Mayan calendar! My kids have been joking about it forever! How can one madman "end the world'? Are you people living in a bubble? Why are you keeping your kids home? Because the world is ending today? Even NASA put out a statement last month that there are no meteors, etc, heading for the Earth. Honestly, I find it utterly insane that HCPS even put out a call for such a silly, childish "rumor". Give me a break and let your kids grow up! Stop all the babying! And if you are against guns, you are doomed. We need armed guards in every school!
MR December 21, 2012 at 08:11 pm
Amen! Couldnt have said it any better myself.
Becky Z December 21, 2012 at 09:28 pm
My daughter, a Jr in High school was very uneasy yesterday..came home from school and told me. Felt scared at school. Also, someone was expelled from her school yesterday. So something was going on??? I find it hard to believe you are expelled for a rumor.
Dan December 21, 2012 at 10:10 pm
Very well said!!! My sentiments exactly!
Cornelius December 21, 2012 at 10:34 pm
How did your child know this particular student was expelled, or suspended? Did the school faculty inform her directly, inform the student body over intercom?
Gmen December 25, 2012 at 03:29 pm
Ahh, "No child left behind" and the generation of everyone getting a trophy.
You could probably keep your children home from school indefinitely and they still receive a diploma, ehhh?
Gmen December 25, 2012 at 03:31 pm
LVFleming is a prime example of a keyboard cowboy.

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