Students disciplined for rumors

While the nation reels from a horrific school shooting in Connecticut, flippant “end-of-the-world” comments by some Kalispell high school students have sparked unfounded rumors that someone will try to blow up or shoot up a local school on Friday.

Kalispell Police said some students were disciplined on Monday for comments they posted on Facebook this weekend regarding shootings rumored to take place at Glacier and Flathead high schools.

“I can’t mention specifics, but those students are in violation of school policy and have been disciplined accordingly,” School Resource Officer Jason Parce said about the comments that were reported to police early Sunday morning.

The rumors and comments appear to be without merit and were prompted by the tragedy in Connecticut and unwarranted “end-of-the-world” sensationalism about Dec. 21, 2012, according to Kalispell Police.

Flathead High School officials traced the start of the rumors to an offhanded comment a student made last week that he or she might as well blow up the high school because the world is going to end on Friday, Dec. 21.

“The [student’s] comment was in reference to the fact that many believe the world is going to end on Dec. 21 because the Mayan Calendar ends on this day,” Flathead High School Principal Peter Fusaro wrote in an email to staff on Sunday, referring to the debunked end-of-the-world fantasy.

But the rumors spread and escalated into unwarranted fears that someone is planning school violence on Friday. 

School administrators fielded calls all weekend from people concerned about the rumors. A San Diego woman warned Kalispell police on Sunday that her daughter heard the “Insane Clown Mafia” is planning a shooting at a local school.

“With any rumor there are many versions that are circulating. However, I can attest to the fact that the rumor started with a flippant comment made by the student. We will continue to follow up and investigate with the source of the rumor,” Fusaro wrote.

Parce and school administrators at Glacier High School have been approached by students who heard the rumors as well, Principal Callie Langohr wrote in an email to staff and parents on Monday.

Langohr and Fusaro asked people to help stop the unfounded rumors, given their origin. They also stressed that School District 5 “always takes even flippant remarks of this nature very seriously.”

“Because of the recent elementary school shooting and the Flathead/Glacier rumors, we will increase our level of supervision this week,” Langohr wrote. “I have requested increased patrols from the [Kalispell Police Department]. This will also include officers making periodic patrols throughout our building.”

Parce said Kalispell Police will have a “felt presence” this week at local schools. Police and school officials also will continue to monitor student activity and look for inappropriate comments on social networking services such as Facebook.

“Those responsible for disrupting the school environment and peace in our community by creating and fostering fear through dialogue of a violent nature will be held accountable at the appropriate level consistent with school policy and state law,” Kalispell Police said in a news release. 

People who hear of disturbing comments about violence or crime are asked to contact police at 758-7780 or call 911 if it is an actual emergency.