"Troubling content regarding school safety" on social media prompted St. Joseph Cathedral School to contact local law enforcement Monday, but there was no immediate threat to students or staff, according to a statement released after school and addressed to St. Joseph Cathedral families.
"Today, some students in our junior high brought forth concerns involving video footage of a posting from another student's social media. Their concern and ours was that the footage contained troubling content regarding school safety," according to the statement to parents emailed from St. Joseph Cathedral's Principal Spencer Allen.
"While no school or students were mentioned specifically in the post, the content was problematic. Thanks to the information provided by these other students, school officials were able to act quickly to ensure there was no immediate threat to our students, staff or others. In addition, we are working with the local police department and other appropriate individuals to take proper steps going forward," Allen said.
"Due to privacy protocols, we are not able to provide more information at this time. Thank you for entrusting your children to our care. Be assured we continually strive to provide a safe, holy, and nurturing environment for them," Allen added.
The News Tribune contacted the Jefferson City Police Department for further information Monday on whether there was an ongoing investigation into the incident, but for the moment, Lt. Dave Williams referred to the school as the best source of information. Williams knew that JCPD had assisted St. Joseph Cathedral, but did not immediately have further information because of his involvement in the ongoing search for missing child Darnell Gray.
Per his guidance from the Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City, Allen referred questions for the school to Helen Osman - the diocese's director of communications.
Osman in an email said "to check with law enforcement regarding the status of the investigation. An aspect of our response to every situation is to review whether we did everything possible, within the circumstances, to keep our children safe, and then to consider what we might want to do different in the next situation. That review is still underway."