Letter from Steven A. Moccio, Superintendent of Schools:
Stafford Public Schools Community:
I write this letter to the entire community in response to the latest example in a disturbing trend of social
media challenges that continue to cause disruption in school systems across the nation, while increasing our
overall anxiety. Per national reports, a TikTok challenge is calling for tomorrow, December 17, 2021, to be a
national school violence day. This non-specific post refers to a threat to school safety “for every school in the
USA, even elementary.”
The district has been in communication with the Stafford Police Department concerning this matter. The
Connecticut State Department of Education has also issued a communication to superintendents informing us
that the department has been told there are no credible threats associated with Connecticut. Please know
that the safety of our students, staff, and parents is our utmost concern. As such, my office recently received
word from School Resource Officer Middleton that, in an abundance of caution, officers will be patrolling
outside of the schools throughout the day tomorrow.
These situations, especially during already stressful times, are incredibly troubling for students, staff, and
parents. Should you have any specific concerns regarding your child, or believe they are experiencing
additional anxiety due to this matter, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s school for support.
This situation serves as a good example of the impact that social media has on our daily lives and I would ask
each family to please monitor their children’s social media activity and engage in conversation regarding the
negative impact that results from improper use of these platforms.
As always, thank you for your partnership as we work to ensure a safe, secure, and positive learning
environment for our students.