WORCESTER – Worcester Chief of Police Paul Saucier and the Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools (WPS) Rachel Monárrez, PhD, issued joint letters on Saturday, Sept. 21, and Monday, Sept. 23, addressing recent threats of violence against schools in Worcester.
WPS sharing a message to parents and guardians on Friday about the reports.
According to the letters by Saucier and Monárrez, multiple students from various schools reported the threatening messages. WPS shared each of the reports with the Worcester Police Department (WPD).
The WPD does not believe the threats are credible, or that there is a credible threat to the safety of Worcester schools, but the investigation is ongoing.
The letters add that as a precautionary measure, the areas around schools will see additional patrols by WPD.
WPS says that the district informed staff about the threats and asked for increased vigilance around visitor management and safety protocols. It also said that it takes all threats seriously and makes sure they are investigated.
The nature of the threats was not shared by WPS or WPD.
WPS provides resources on its website to assist parents and guardians in speaking to children about these issues. See the WPS Health and Wellness page for more information.
The WPS website also has its Standard Response Protocols published on its website. Additional information about the district’s safety policies is available on the Safety Department pages on the website.
