UPDATE: Why West Seattle High School sheltered in place for a while this morning

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10:31 AM: Thanks for the tips. West Seattle High School sheltered in place for a while this morning, less than an hour. Seattle Public Schools spokesperson Tim Robinson says it was because of a threat via social media. Seattle Police spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson says police were initially called around 9 am and are investigating. No other details so far.

1:11 PM: WSHS principal Brian Vance sent this message to families:

I know that there have been a few incidents and media attention the past couple of weeks that have prompted communications home. Unfortunately, we had an incident this morning that I want to share information about. We are sending you this letter to update you on the facts and to assure you that we are doing everything we can to support our students.

This morning, it was reported that one of our students created a social media post with threatening content directed toward our school security team.

We quickly determined that the student who allegedly made the post was not in school at the time.

We worked with SPS security and the Seattle Police and decided to put the school in the shelter-in-place protocol. This happened just after first period began.

The student who allegedly made the threat was contacted by police and was taken into custody.

The shelter-in-place was lifted before the end of first period.

I continue to ask for your partnership in reminding students about safe and appropriate use of social media. Social media can take on a life of its own and comments that are perceived as threats or dangerous are taken seriously and investigated. The outcome and consequence of posts and comments can be unpredictable and has the potential to follow students for years.

Thanks to the parents who forwarded the note.

boedd June 24, 2019 (11:30 am)

America is really starting to suck. Can’t do anything without there being threats. Seems to be the go-to move when somebody doesn’t like something. Death threats if you disagree, threats to schools by crazy people. Sad.

We June 24, 2019 (6:29 pm)

In the 90s we had bomb threats every week for a month. It’s not cool that this happens, but it’s just a joke regular kids play sometimes. Hopefully this was just a prankster that learned a serious lesson.

WSMom June 24, 2019 (11:56 am)

WSHS has been in the news a lot this week.

Concerned WSHS Parent June 24, 2019 (12:30 pm)

Here we go again. Parents just received another canned response from the principal. Is it safe to send our kids to this school? Threats of gun violence, criminal sexual conduct against students, and now this. We may need new leadership at this school.

WSB June 24, 2019 (1:09 pm)

A parent forwarded that to us so I am adding to the story.
Concerned WSHS Student June 24, 2019 (2:31 pm)

As. Being a student, going through all of this is hard. I don’t fully trust staff anymore
WSHS student June 24, 2019 (11:09 pm)

“We need new leadership at this school” Really? So you think that the “leader” controls what a student does on social media, what a coach does behind closed doors, and other threats? Ok…. that makes a lot of sense. Why are you criticizing the principal for following protocol? Give him a break, jeez.

ProudWSHSParent June 24, 2019 (1:36 pm)

This is indeed tragic, and I am glad the situation was resolved without harm to students. I have to admit – when these incidents happen, and the School Admin’s promptly inform the parents of the details, what logical justification people have to malign them as incompetent? It would be akin to asking to fire a Target Store Manager, because people keep getting caught shoplifting from the store! The Principal/Administration/Teachers should be blamed if these things don’t get caught, but because they do catch these issues on a timely basis – to blame them since rather silly?

Junction mom June 24, 2019 (2:19 pm)

Unfortunately, this happens at a lot of schools, not just WSHS. I’m glad the staff there takes it seriously. Who knows if the student really meant anything or not, but involving the police demonstrates a commitment to safety. Shelter-in-place seems reasonable until the situation is resolved.

Concerned WSHS Parent June 24, 2019 (2:41 pm)

The problem is they don’t notify the students, or parents promptly in all cases, and notification isn’t the only issue. Have you even been following these events? Seems as if you are here to provide cover, but lacking knowledge. Our children were threatened with gun violence last week 15 minutes before lunch, and the school allowed students to stream out onto the grounds – none of them knew. If that’s not incompetent I don’t know what is. Criminal sexual complaint: the AD knew about inappropriate contact a year before – what did school leadership know? Take off your rose colored glasses. I listen to my child and friends talk about how teachers and students laugh and ignore the current principal when he speaks through the intercom. No one takes this individual seriously or respects him as a leader. This principal also has a poor track record addressing institutionalized racism on the campus – and coming from Roosevelt, where he worked previously, not surprising. One of the VPs on the other hand is greatly admired, can’t recall his name. That’s sad, really and the result is poor leadership and coordination that impacts the safety of our students.

Chris June 24, 2019 (6:07 pm)

It doesn’t say that the administration knew about inappropriate contact a year prior. It just says that t had been going on for at least a year. I think that the victim was afraid to report it until February this year.
- Concerned WSHS Parent June 24, 2019 (7:22 pm)
  
  I am not sure how current you are on this, or if you have read the previous reports and court documents – the students report it had been going on since 2017 – the AD received a report of inappropriate contact in 2018.
  - WSB June 24, 2019 (8:30 pm)
    
    To be clear, the last line of the probable-cause document in the case, usually based on the police report, said: “The school’s Athletic Director Corey Sorenson confirmed that on 03/30/2018 he learned that Gutierrez was communicating with students via social media and that Gutierrez was later informed of the violation.” It does not say anything about the nature of those communications, whether they were known to have been “inappropriate” – aside from being a violation of the school policy against staff using social media to communicate with students, as mentioned earlier in the document: “Around March of 2017 Gutierrez added (victim) and several other students on the social media app Snapchat. School administration found out about Gutierrez contacting students via social media and he was confronted by the school for violating their social media policy. The school’s policy is that staff will not use social media to contact students.” The victim told police in February of this year – when they were contacted by vice principal Garth Reeves – that Gutierrez started sending her inappropriate messages in June 2017. (PS – In a side note brought up by another commenter, Reeves and Scott Canfield are the 2 WSHS vice principals who are opening a charter high school in South King County in 2020.)
    - Concerned WSHS Parent June 24, 2019 (8:47 pm)
      
      Contact with a minor on social media and against school policy, is indeed inappropriate. And, was a red flag waving all over the place.
    - WSB June 24, 2019 (8:53 pm)
      
      What I mean is whether it was of the sort that led to police being called this past February; the court and probable cause documents don’t say.
    - Emma June 24, 2019 (10:26 pm)
      
      Thanks for the link on the Charter Schools story. I am not a supporter of Charter Schools, not yet anyway ;-). And, I have to say, these two individuals are probably the most competent in leadership positions presently at the school – and so now we lose them. I can speculate on the number of reasons they would like to leave. Scott Canfield was very proactive on a number of fronts at WSHS and was the only leader who made sense in his communication. He was honest, sincere and diligent in communications with me and my child. Now why can’t SPS keep leaders like him; it’s a real shame and loss for the school.
    - WSMom June 25, 2019 (7:47 am)
      
      So if they are opening a new charter school I assume they are leaving?

concerned neighbor June 24, 2019 (3:26 pm)

Perhaps if the leadership at WSHS hadn’t spent the year engaged in implementing a new charter school, they would have had more time to do the jobs they are being paid by the taxpayers to do.

Chris June 24, 2019 (6:02 pm)

That shouldn’t take any time away from the job of West Seattle High School administration. I’m not sure what they have to do with implementing a new Charter School…
- Concerned WSHS Parent June 24, 2019 (7:24 pm)
  
  Again – read up. Two of the assistant principals at this school are helping to get a local charter school off the ground and are focused on this. It’s widely known here and in other forums.
  - WSMom June 24, 2019 (11:15 pm)
    
    Concerned WSHS Parent – Read up where? Links?
WS citizen June 25, 2019 (12:27 am)

The 2 WSHS VP are seldom at WSHS, as they also have been on paternity leave. There’s is another (new) VP at wshs, Nancy Carrol. Also, Garth Reeves applied for the Principal job when it was opened but didn’t get it.

John June 24, 2019 (3:34 pm)

Lets keep our scholars safe. Thanks SPD

Curious June 24, 2019 (3:49 pm)

Do we know what student sent the threat? Rumors have been going around

newnative June 24, 2019 (4:14 pm)

It says that the person is in custody.

anonyme June 24, 2019 (4:01 pm)

How is the school to blame for a kid posting threats on social media? Schools aren’t responsible for raising our children. Our society is in shambles. Restricting social media might be a start; real communication is dead. You can access any amount of crazed ranting and instantaneous muck-raking 24/7, without ever having to learn how to talk to a real person.

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