Peninsula schools educate parents on effects of social media after bomb threat

Threats of violence posted on social media have peninsula schools taking action.

Parents packed the Pacific Grove Performing Arts Center Tuesday night to learn about the effects of mobile apps in schools.

“We need to learn just as fast as the kids are learning. Students are digital natives so they grew up with this and they know nothing different,” said Ralph Porras, superintendent of the Pacific Grove Unified School District.

A bomb threat made online against Carmel High School in February is serving as an example. Investigators identified a suspect, a 16-year-old football player from Pacific Grove High School.

“Everything seems to be stemming from what they call the ‘Shoe Game,’ which is the big football game rivalry between Carmel High School and Pacific Grove High School. That seems to be what started the sequence of events that lead to this bomb threat that was called in in February,” said Cmdr. John Thornburg with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

Porras added that the schools are now working together to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again.

“Well, of course we are very concerned that a rivalry or just school issues
could bleed out and create other issues for students socially,” said Porras.

The threat was posted anonymously on the mobile app Ogle, a social media site for school campuses.

“It looks like a fair amount of schools are stopping it and shutting it down, not allowing access to it. Which based on current events might not be a bad idea,” said Thornburg.

The suspect hasn’t been arrested but the District Attorney’s Office will review the case and could press charges that might include terrorist threats.

“Our first intent is try to educate them on the apps that exist out in the world, what kids are into and how as parents they can get a better understanding of it and interact with their children about what they are doing on computers,” said Porras.

Another meeting on social media will be Wednesday, April 6th at 7 p.m. at Carmel High School.