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ATLANTA – The Fannin County school system announced over the weekend that today, September 9, will be a virtual school day due to recent threats following the mass shooting at Apalachee High School last week.

Numerous “unspecific” rumors of threats circulated on social media, and the school system worked with law enforcement to monitor them.

Stories about the shooting at Apalachee High School

The Fannin County Sheriff’s Office stated that none of the reported rumors about the threat were credible or true.

The rumors allegedly mentioned Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens County schools.

Out of an abundance of caution, the Fannin County school system has declared Monday a virtual school day.

Gilmer County Schools also released a message regarding the threat rumors. They are monitoring the situation and the Gilmer County School System will continue normal operations with increased security precautions. They urged the public to continue to report any threat rumors.

The Pickens County School District also said it will continue normal operations with increased security. In addition to school security, local police forces will provide additional security.

Pickens officials also urged parents and guardians to check their children’s backpacks, monitor electronic devices and social media accounts, discuss the serious consequences of making threats or jokes about harming others, and report any suspicious activity or threats to school officials or police.

Since the shooting, which left two teachers and two students dead and nine others injured, numerous students and others in several school districts have been arrested for making threats or “jokes.”

Late Friday afternoon, the GBI and FBI Atlanta issued a joint statement saying that specific social media threats would be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent possible under the law. They also reminded the public that sharing online threats can cause unnecessary panic and spread false information. While the majority of investigations into threats posted since the shooting have been deemed implausible, they stressed that all threats should still be reported immediately to local law enforcement.