UPDATE, Dec. 11, 2024 – On October 10, 2024, District officials and local law enforcement were made aware of a threat of violence against Fairport High School. This threat was made on social media and spread quickly, causing a significant disruption to our Fairport school community. 

Today, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office made an arrest in connection to that social media threat. The suspect is a Fairport High School student. The District will not comment further on the suspect or details of the arrest, as the criminal case is still ongoing. 

In addition to the legal implications of this arrest, the District will also employ its Code of Conduct to the greatest extent possible and wherever applicable to reinforce our requirements of safe and healthy learning environments. 

The response to the threat was a massive effort by Fairport Police, New York State Police, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and our District safety and security team. The investigation was wide-ranging and our partners in law enforcement used their resources to track the suspect’s digital footprint and collect evidence in this case. We are deeply grateful for their knowledge, perseverance and cooperation with the District. Our focus, as always, is the safety and wellbeing of each member of our school community, and our law enforcement partners share those same aims. 

Parents, please take time to speak with your students today about this incident. This should serve as a reminder that what we post online matters - even if it seems like a joke or a contribution to a trend. This threat was deemed not credible, and at no point were our students in danger - but it was a serious, criminal threat. The District and our community cannot take threats lightly and each one of us has a responsibility to keep people safe. Please continue to encourage students to pause and think about the ramifications of their online activities.

I would also like to thank the students and families who contacted Fairport High School administrators on October 10 and beyond to share their concerns about the threat. Their actions are evidence that Fairport’s culture of “See Something, Say Something” is strong. Please know that the Safe Schools Hotline can always be accessed from our District website or via phone at 1-800-418-6423 ext. 359. You can also text at 614-426-0240 and type “TIPS” to begin the reporting process.

UPDATE, Oct. 10, 2024 – Thank you for your cooperation and support as the District continues to investigate the social media threat against Fairport High School that was shared this morning. 

Right now, our partners in law enforcement are working closely with District administrators. The investigation thus far indicates that the social media post was made locally as a copycat threat similar to a wave of hoax posts that have targeted schools and districts across the country over the past several weeks. There is no information to suggest that this was ever a credible threat, however, law enforcement continues to investigate.

Please be aware that due to the seriousness of this event and the disruption caused to our school environments, the District will enact consequences to the furthest possible extent and will work with investigators to seek criminal charges.

Members of local, county and New York State law enforcement are strong partners and were present at and around the Fairport High School campus today, interacting with students and staff and verifying that our school community was protected. District security teams were alert and vigilant at all of our facilities and worked hand-in-hand with officers to verify the safety of our students and staff. We are grateful for the partnerships that make this kind of efficient and effective response possible - it is a credit to our community for investing in these networks of support.

I would also like to thank the students and families who contacted Fairport High School administrators and District staff early this morning to share their concerns about the threat. Their actions are evidence that Fairport’s culture of “See Something, Say Something” is strong. Please know that the Safe Schools Hotline can always be accessed from our District website or via phone at 1-800-418-6423 ext. 359 (follow the prompts). You can also text at 614-426-0240 and type “TIPS” to begin the reporting process.

Please take some time this evening to speak with your students about their experiences today and about the roles we all play in keeping our schools safe. If you have additional questions or concerns or need to process this incident further, please reach out to your building principal or Safety and Security Coordinator Sam Farina at 585-421-8420.

Oct. 10, 2024 – The Fairport Central School District is aware of an anonymous post on Instagram threatening violence at Fairport High School.

We know that this post and the resulting spread of information is alarming, and the District is taking every safety precaution at this time, including sharing the post with local and national law enforcement and coordinating an investigation. At this time, we have no reason to believe this threatening post is credible. It appears to follow the same format as a wave of hoax posts that have targeted schools and Districts across the country over the past several weeks. National, state and local law enforcement have been investigating similar unsubstantiated threats.

The safety of our students and staff is, as always, our number one priority. Out of an abundance of caution, local law enforcement will have an increased presence on and around the Fairport High School campus today, as well as at our other schools.

It is critical that each member of our school communities is empowered to report if a post or a situation does not feel right - if you “See Something, Say Something”.

As an additional resource, the Safe Schools Hotline can be accessed from our District website or via phone at 1-800-418-6423 ext. 359 (follow the prompts). You can also text at 614-426-0240 and type “TIPS” to begin the reporting process.