Thursday, February 22nd, 2018
Two more students disciplined over social media post
By Tom Stankard
CELINA - Two Celina Middle School students have been disciplined after having reportedly sent a Snapchat post they said was a joke on Wednesday night.
Superintendent Ken Schmiesing said in a news release the post had been done from a home in response to a threatening video clip posted to the site on Monday by another middle school student. That student was disciplined for the threat on Tuesday.
Celina police and school administrators have investigated the new incident, and the students involved in creating this post have been disciplined, Schmiesing said in the release.
"We strongly encourage all parents to speak with your children about the fear and anxiety social media comments and threats can cause for others," he said in the release. "Our children need to know that before they speak, type, text, tweet and/or hit 'post,' they need to stop and think because words have consequences."
He stressed that these types of situations will be noted on their permanent record.
Police chief Tom Wale previously had said officers take this and all threats to schools seriously, regardless of the intent of the person making the threats.
The incident will be referred to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office for review and prosecution to the fullest extent possible, according to the release.
County prosecutor Matthew Fox had previously told the newspaper that when his office reviews allegations that students had threatened violence toward a school's teachers, staff and/or students, several sections of Ohio law may apply.
Possible charges include, but are not limited to, aggravated menacing, inciting violence, disorderly conduct, telecommunications harassment, inducing panic, making false alarms and unlawful possession or use of a hoax weapon of mass destruction, Fox had noted.
"It will take the efforts of us all to educate our children regarding the safe and appropriate use of social media. Thank you for joining us in this effort," Schmiesing said.
