Written by: Sam Orlando
LURAY, VIRGINIA — Following a series of alarming threats made by students, Page County Public Schools (PCPS) Superintendent Antonia Fox has issued a candid and urgent message to families, stressing the importance of community cooperation in maintaining school safety.
In a letter dated September 11, 2024, Fox expressed the district’s deep sadness over the recent school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. In that incident, which occurred on September 4, 2024, a 14-year-old student opened fire, killing two students and two teachers, and injuring nine others.
The tragedy has shaken communities across the country, including Page County. "We mourn with the families impacted by this senseless act of violence," Fox wrote, drawing parallels between the national tragedy and the disturbing local threats that have recently emerged.
Over the past two weeks, local law enforcement informed PCPS of multiple threats made by students to harm others, including one at Luray Middle School and another at Page County High School. These threats were made over social media, contributing to a growing sense of unease. A neighboring school division also had to close its doors temporarily due to threats.
Fox underscored the seriousness of making any kind of threat, regardless of intent. “As a school division and a community, we cannot state it clearly enough—making threats of any kind is simply unacceptable,” she said. The superintendent stressed that no threat can be dismissed as a joke and that law enforcement will be involved in every case, with students facing serious consequences under the PCPS Student Handbook, Code of Conduct, and legal statutes.
In addition to addressing the threats, Fox urged parents to have frank conversations with their children about the consequences of making such statements and to monitor their children’s online activity closely. She provided parents with practical advice on how to navigate these conversations, as well as how to set boundaries for social media and phone usage.
Fox also announced an important community event, scheduled for September 19, 2024, at the Page County Technical Center Commons. Virginia’s First Lady Suzanne Youngkin and Jonathan Heidt, author of The Anxious Generation, will participate in a live-streamed discussion on how smartphones and social media have contributed to declining mental health among young people. Fox encouraged parents, staff, and community members to attend, emphasizing the importance of community-wide efforts to address these issues.
The superintendent concluded her letter by thanking local law enforcement and emergency response teams for their ongoing support. She also reiterated the need for continued collaboration between families, schools, and the community to ensure a safe learning environment for all students.
With a focus on prevention and intervention, Fox's message calls for unity in a time when schools across the nation face increasing challenges related to violence and safety.
Families are encouraged to RSVP for the September 19 event and to stay connected with the school division through the PCPS app for timely updates and communication.
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