Sumter County Schools addresses social media threat that led to lockdown

AMERICUS, Ga. (WALB) - The Sumter County Board of Education is answering questions concerned parents have after Sumter County Middle School recently went on a mandatory lockdown. Sumter County Superintendent Walter Knighton says this threat was the result of a social media rumor.

“We had an incident where there was a social media post relative to a potential threat happening in our schools. Our administration contacted our SRO officers as well as law enforcement. They went through the process of investigating that threat and nothing was found there,” Knighton said.

Sumter County Schools say they take all threats made seriously and they have security procedures in place to ensure safety on campus.

“We have multiple layers of security. Weapon identification and we also have mechanisms for the searching of those areas. We definitely want to make sure that we are providing those safe environments, and we have a closed campus,” Knighton continued.

To help combat violence amongst Sumter County youth, One Sumter, an economic development foundation, is striving to give teens in the county a positive outlet. Tammye Pettyjohn Jones, One Sumter’s Director of Programs, says the organization is working to let teens know that they have an outlet.

“I think it’s important that we give them a voice, that we listen to what they’re saying. People want to be heard,“ Jones said.

One Sumter is designed to build a culture of peace amongst youth. The director believes positive connections made outside of the classroom will positively impact the inside.

“It creates an opportunity for students to understand how to work through conflict in an orderly manner. I think anything that we instill will resonate in the classroom and in the home,” Jones said.

For parents who still have questions about the threat concerning Sumter County Middle School, you are encouraged to reach out to the school principal and other school personnel.

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