A PDF Version of the below letter can be found here
9/21/2024
Dear RSU 29 Families and Community,
On September 12, 2024, our school community was disrupted by information being shared through social media. We recognize that there are a lot of strong feelings, emotions, and opinions regarding this incident. What was being shared was upsetting to all of us, and I can assure you that the district investigated immediately and involved the Houlton Police Department as it happened outside of RSU 29. As we began our investigative work, we felt we could still provide a safe environment for learning, but we could not provide any public response as the investigative process had to be kept pure and protect all parties who were involved. There were many things about the incident shared through social media that were misleading. This release is to explain what took place and how RSU 29 was involved in working with area schools, law enforcement, and families.
The challenge schools are facing is when outside of school incidents affect our students. Social media causes significant damage to the wellness and mental health of our students. Social media attacks on individuals using personal devices occur many times outside of school. When issues during school are brought to administration's attention, we investigate the evidence and act accordingly. When something happens outside of school, we encourage people to contact the police. The school also evaluates how a student's educational opportunities are affected by harassment by conducting a Title IX investigation. We always investigate any issues on our school issued technology. What I am going to share is the information we have gathered so the community understands the nature of the situation, what RSU 29 has done to work with students and families, and how we wish to move forward and be part of the solution.
On Thursday, September 12, 2024, while students were at a Region Two Forestry program at Southern Aroostook Community School, a student showed a private website on their phone to another student, who then took a video of this website on their personal phone. That video of faces and picture icons was then shared on social media. That is when the public became aware of a website of pictures which was named a “rape list” by social media users. HMHS administration found out about the social media post through a student who came forward that afternoon. Our staff contacted the Houlton Police Department who were involved by 2:15 p.m. that same day.
Starting on Thursday, September 12, and continuing into Friday, September 13, HMHS administration responded to individuals who called the school. Callers were given direction to contact the Houlton Police Department regarding their concerns. Through initial school investigations, we ascertained that there was no direct threat. Region Two staff also began an investigation as it involved various students from different schools attending their program. A regular scheduled meeting of area superintendents and the Region Two CTE director took place Friday, September 13, where we shared information. Investigations by police continued throughout the weekend.
Mr. Morse, Principal of HMHS, Mr. Shaker, HMHS Student Success Coordinator, and I met with the Houlton Police Department at 10 a.m. on Monday, September 16, to get a briefing on their investigation. Police discovered evidence that pictures were gathered on a private “Google Photos Account”, which was created by juveniles using their own devices. It was determined that the majority of photos were taken from public social media pages posted by various individuals. It was confirmed to be a bank of photos, in a password protected Google website that was actually created during the summer.
As reported by the Houlton Police Department “At this time, no evidence has been presented indicating a threat, assaults, or any harm to anyone in the photos. The photos were never labeled as any specific list, only speculated by others. There is no threat to the public and no criminal violations of the law.” There were many opinions shared through social media, some of them quite intense and threatening. Those individuals in the public who did not have all the information were also spreading falsehoods and creating more issues instead of allowing the investigation by police and the school to run its course.
On the afternoon of September 16, HMHS administration did host a focused meeting with Region Two and Southern Aroostook representatives to fill them in on what information had been gathered from our own investigation and from the police. RSU 29 followed our Title IX policy to continue its own investigation of the harassment of students and the effect on their educational opportunities. That investigation is ongoing under the rules of our policy.
RSU 29 took actions to make sure our schools were safe. What we are very concerned about is the false accusations regarding the district and threats towards juveniles. Our families and communities must come together to help us teach our students and our citizens about the challenges and dangers of technology, including how individual actions can spread rapidly to affect many. We are going to continue to teach our students how to navigate these waters, but we can not do it alone. Parents need to remember that when your children share and post pictures anywhere in a public setting, they can be captured by anyone. It is essential for parents to be involved in their child’s use of social media.
The following is a list of action items and procedures RSU 29 has implemented or provided to our students to help them navigate this complex outside world that comes into our schools.
● Students and parents sign off on proper use of school issued equipment. Nothing is private on an RSU 29 device or an associated email and Google account. Everything is searchable, and our devices are able to be filtered when in home use.
● We invested in programs such as Cisco Umbrella and SonicWall which filter inappropriate content and attacks on our devices, allowing our students to use them in a safe manner.
● The program Securly can look at keywords students type or search on school devices so we can see if they are using words associated with harassment, self harm, or threats to other students.
● We have provided assemblies and training for staff and students to address the use of technology. We brought in Chuck Ainsworth from the Department of Homeland Security to meet with high school students last year on May 20, 2024 and middle school students on May 21, 2024. This presentation highlighted the dangers of social media, including what you share can be used in many different ways. He also covered how forensic teams are able to investigate and find information on student phones.
● RSU 29 shifted resources and created a Student Success Coordinator at HMHS. We are very fortunate to have Mr. David Shaker, who has a law enforcement background, to work on truancy, student behaviors, Title IX, and coordinate with parents and students to create successful experiences at HMHS.
● Students have access to our extensive counseling services when needed. We have encouraged students affected by this event to access these services.
● The school board continues to update policies and procedures including those involving student safety.
● We have initiated middle school guidance lessons, incorporating discussing the use of social media, and how to work with one another when the virtual world interferes.
We need to work together in our community to teach safety and appropriate use of technology.
1. We would like to host a public forum where parents and community members are educated on the challenges of social media. Law enforcement representatives would be invited to answer questions and explain about laws and rights.
2. The district will continue to follow our cell phone use policy, but we need parents to also monitor and check their child's cell phone specifically looking for photos, websites, and social media platforms where harassment occurs and hate is spread.
3. Parents need to check for secondary phones or hidden social media accounts that their children might have created.
4. There is a proposal for a School Resource Officer to be shared by RSU 29 and Houlton Police Department. This would include shared funding for the position, but it must be supported fiscally by the community.
5. We will keep updating school policy and continue training in Title IX, harassment, investigations, and staff knowledge and procedures related to bullying, cyberbullying, and any sexual harassment.
6. Students will continue to be educated about the proper use of all electronic devices, not only by RSU 29, but in partnership with parents, guardians, families, churches, law enforcement, and community organizations.
RSU 29 is not able to do this alone. It is time for the public to make sure laws and regulations support investigation of these acts. It is time for the parents to take control of the actions of their children regarding phone usage and social media. When social media is used inappropriately, it creates hurt, confusion, fear, and anger. Please reach out to law enforcement when something posted on social media or shared on various platforms creates harassment and hostility.
The school will continue to follow all policies and procedures for school-related incidents. We are simply not able to police all social media issues outside of school. We need parent and community assistance. RSU 29 CARES and our priority is for all students to feel safe. We pledge to continue to educate students and our community on how the improper use of technology affects the educational process.
Sincerely,
Joseph A. Fagnant, Superintendent