Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials are looking into another digital school-bullying incident, this time at Rio Norte Junior High School, according to officials.

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A student was sent a strange and threatening post online and notified his parents, who contacted Sheriff’s Station deputies.  

The school resource deputy that works with Rio Norte, Deputy Romo, is looking into the incident, according to Deputy Josh Dubin of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

“The post and alleged threat was sent via message on a new social media platform,” Dubin said. “We’re still gathering information from the parents and children involved.”

Deputies do not believe there was any intention by one student to physically harm another, but the district and officials take all reports of cyberbullying very seriously, officials said.

Related: Santa Clarita Valley Detectives Arrest Suspects For ‘Inappropriate Photos’

Two recent arrests of Hart district students prompted a caution from school district officials about dialogue parents should have with their children about social media activity:

– Establish guidelines with your child before allowing him or her to use social media such as reviewing your child’s posts before posting.

– Ensure your child is using privacy settings

– Caution your child about the dangers of posting inappropriate or provocative information or images. Teach them that once something is posted online, it cannot be taken back.

– Encourage your children to come to you if anything on a blog site or social media makes him or her feel uncomfortable and to always let you know if there is an attempt by a stranger to contact them or engage in conversation.

Deputies, in conjunction with city of Santa Clarita officials, have put together several workshops on the subject, also.

Related: Santa Clarita Deputies Talk Social Media, Sexting, Parental Concern At City Hall

A Hart district official said district policy and the state’s Education Code prevented school officials from discussing any action taken with respect to the Rio Norte incident.

Hart district spokeswoman Gail Pinsker said the district handles about 20-30 expulsion cases every year, and district officials are proud of the low expulsion rate among the nearly 23,000 students in the William S. Hart Union High School District.

There were 25 expulsions last year, according to Pinsker, and 35 in the 2012-13 school year. The most common cause for the 2012-13 expulsions was for “possession, use, sale or furnishing a controlled substance, alcohol, intoxicant” — with 14 incidents, according to the California Department of Education website.

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