Schools superintendent sends message to parents after creepy clown sightings

screenshot-98Creepy clown sightings have recently been reported in Lynnwood and other areas of Western Washington. Mountlake Terrace police say that they have not received any reports so far.

Following these reports, Edmonds School District Superintendent Kris McDuffy sent a message to families on Wednesday, Oct. 5 addressing concerns.

She first says no threats have been made to schools in the district, and no creepy clown reports have been filed from any of the district’s schools. She also offers safety tips to students, including remain alert when walking by only wearing one earbud and to report any suspicious activity to an adult or police. Students can also leave a message on the anonymous district tipline by calling 425-431-7010.

Read McDuffy’s full message to parents below:

Dear Edmonds School District families,

Over the last few days, national and local news reports and social media discussion has focused on “creepy clowns.” As a result, this has been a topic of discussion in many of our schools. We want you to be aware of this situation in the interest of student safety and protecting our learning environment.

We also want you to have the facts. We have not heard any threats against our schools and no reports of people dressed as clowns on our campuses. We want to assure you that student safety is a top priority.

We work closely with law enforcement agencies and will take any threat or rumor seriously. If students are distressed at school, our counselors, teachers and administrators are always available.

I encourage you to speak with your students about safety and remind them to talk to trusted adults and school staff immediately if they see or encounter a suspicious person and to report any concerning communication they observe. This is not just important with regard to “creepy clowns.” It’s a good idea to regularly review personal and online safety with students, including the following tips:

Try to walk with someone and not alone;
Only wear one earbud or headphone so you are not blocking out surrounding sounds and noises;
Do not make appointments to meet people in person who have been contacted online;
Do not reveal personal information, such as complete names, addresses and telephone numbers online;
Always report any suspicious activity, dangerous information and messages to police, school staff or a trusted adult.
You may also leave a message on the anonymous District Tipline by calling 425-431-7010.

As always, we appreciate your support in maintaining safe and calm learning environments for our students.

Wishing you all the best,

~Kris

Dr. Kristine McDuffy
Superintendent

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