Local Schools Investigating Rumors of Violence Connected to Mayan Calendar

Pinellas County Schools, including Countryside High School, continue to investigate rumors of potential violence at schools on Friday, connected to the end of the Mayan calendar on Dec. 21.

A call from Countryside High School principal Gerald Schlerth went out to parents Tuessday night regarding the rumors, which have circulated primarily through social media, about possible harm to students or gun violence on Dec. 21. 

Rumors of potential violence mostly associated with the end of the Mayan calendar began circulating earlier this week, although students reportedly started hearing the rumors as early as last week.

But the Connecticut shooting on Friday raised students' level of awareness and apparently caused them to report what they were hearing, said schools spokeswoman Melanie Marquez.

Pinellas County School superintendent Mike Grego sent an email to principals on Tuesday, which said in part that school officials were taking the threats seriously, but no credible threats had been found at this time.

In response, Countryside High sent a letter home to parents on on December 18 regarding the message from Superintendent Grego. Here is an excerpt from the letter singned by principal Schlerth:

While we continue to mourn the loss of children and faculty at Sandy Hook elementary in Newtown, Conn., I'm reaching out to tell you that we are redoubling our efforts here at Countryside High School to make sure that all of our students feel safe and protected.

Earlier today, Dr. Grego, our superintendent, communicated with us that the district is continuing to review all emergency management procedures. For your information, all emergency procedures are reviewed at the beginning of each school year and monitored throughout the year.

In addition to Pinellas County school resource officers, local law enforcement agencies have increased their presence at elementary schools. Be assured that as educators and parents ourselves, we are doing everything in our power to keep our schools and our children safe.

While the initial messages stated that "no credible threats had been discovered", late Thursday afternoon Largo High School officials sent an email to students that stated, "The county just sent an email saying that, with the help of the authorities, they have tracked down the sources of these rumors through Facebook and other social media.  The school board and the authorities are taking action on the perpetrators."

Despite these official statements, many students are planning on staying home on Friday to avoid any possible incidents related to the Mayan Calendar and/or Sandy Hook, according to parents and students at both schools.

"I'm not sending my kid to school tomorrow," one parent of a Countryside High freshman, who wished to remain anonymous, told Patch. "Why would I want to risk her safety for one day of school?"

Patch parents, what do you think of these threats, and will you send your child to school on Friday? Please let us know in the comments below.