MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Mo. – At least two Missouri law enforcement agencies are warning of confusion around online lists of schools labeled as “targeted,” which have prompted safety concerns among some students and parents in recent days.
The Crawford County and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Offices have informed the public that there are no credible threats regarding such lists that came to their attention.
Earlier in the week, a similar situation emerged in Georgia, where authorities continue to investigate a list that went viral on social media platform TikTok that appeared to include a title of “Targeted Schools,” according to Nexstar affiliate WRIC. Police say the list was related to an official document from the Georgia Department of Education for the state’s “Targeted Assistance Program,” which provides resources and support to schools identified as needing improvement.
Georgia authorities say the “Targeted Schools” list was mistakenly interpreted as a list of potential threats. It appears some law enforcement agencies in Missouri are navigating through similar false alarms.
The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office says the Steelville School District went on a soft lockdown Tuesday after a concerned parent mistook a “Targeted Schools” list showing schools due to received COVID-19 pandemic relief funding.
“It was later determined that there was no actual threat and the safety of school staff and students were never in danger,” said the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office via Facebook.
On Wednesday, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office explained that it was aware of screenshots of school lists making rounds on social media that included the word “targeted.” Several people also informed the MCR2 School District in Montgomery County of such lists.
Montgomery County deputies reported that the lists they came across were of “Title I Targeted Assisted Schools,” which exist for several states, including Missouri.
“A targeted assistance school is a public school that receives Title I funds to provide supplemental services to a select group of students who are at risk of failing to meet state academic standards. The goal of these programs is to improve teaching and learning so that students can meet the state’s performance standards,” said the sheriff’s office via Facebook.
After communication with the MCR2 School District, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says “we all agree this is a nationwide hoax and there is no credible threat.” Along with that, the school district implied it would increase law enforcement presence at the schools Thursday morning.
The warnings from Crawford County and Montgomery County authorities follow two recent school threats at St. Louis-area schools, one in Illinois and one in Missouri, in recent days, along with recent school shootings in Georgia and Nebraska.
