Dear Ladue School District Families and Staff,

I want to inform you about nationwide racially motivated text messages sent to African Americans across the nation. These messages contain disparaging and hurtful language. Federal and local law enforcement agencies say these messages come from unrecognized numbers and are determined to be associated with international spoofing sites. Hateful discourse such as this aims to instill fear and disrupt the community.

We were informed that students within our school district have received similar SPAM messages. School administrators immediately addressed the hurtful messages with the students impacted, provided support, and will continue to provide support. We also contacted their parents and reported the matter to local authorities. Disparaging and racially motivated messages are not only hurtful but will always be taken with the utmost seriousness.

Historically, when nationwide swatting incidents have occurred, copycat threats have shortly followed, which not only interfere with the learning environment but also cause anxiety for our students, families, staff, and community. Rest assured, the safety of Ladue students is our number one priority. 

As part of our recent No Place for Hate initiative, students participated in lessons about respect, understanding individuals who are different, and insensitive language. They also committed to treating others with kindness and ensuring our schools are safe for all. 

As always, if you have any safety concerns, please contact your child’s teacher, counselor, or administrator. To report spoofing messages, contact your child’s principal, local law enforcement, or our anonymous tip line at Courage2ReportMO or by calling 1-866-748-7047 or local FBI at 1-800-225-5324 or visit FBI.gov/tips.  

You can also forward the SPAM message to the Federal Trade Commission's reporting system at 7726, which helps your wireless provider block similar messages.

Lastly, I encourage you to monitor your child’s social media accounts and mobile apps as a safety precaution. 

At times like this, I am incredibly grateful to be part of such a caring community that understands we are stronger together.

Sincerely, 

Dr. Jim Wipke
Superintendent