District 186 Families,
Thank you for your continued partnership and focus in helping your child succeed at school. Even as we
continue to navigate through the challenges that the last year has presented, it is evident that students
are engaged and happy to be learning in person. We hope you will take the time to read this message
about a specific concern that has come to our attention.
Recently you may have heard or read about the social media platform TikTok and various “challenges”
that encourage vandalism and theft of school property and other concerning behaviors. We have now
learned that there are new challenges being posted to TikTok each month that call for students to
participate in disruptive, destructive, illegal, and even violent behaviors.
We understand that technology and social media are ever changing and can be difficult to monitor and
regulate. We are asking for your assistance in discussing the seriousness of these actions and their
potential consequences, the importance of making good choices at school, and using technology
responsibly. We share the responsibility of raising our students to be kind and thoughtful leaders. Please
be aware of your child’s social media accounts and have a conversation about their appropriate use.
Participating in these challenges could result in disciplinary consequences at school and, in some
instances, require the involvement of law enforcement. Both students who perform the act and those who
record it or post it to social media could face serious repercussions. We are partnering with our States
Attorney’s office to proactively address these issues so that we can avoid any devastating outcomes.
Our teachers and administrators work diligently to provide opportunities for social emotional learning and
address behavior issues in a restorative manner. We have curricula and supports designed to teach and
model behavior and respect and help students develop skills to self-regulate and make good decisions.
We are here to support all students and encourage you to reach out if you have any concerns about your
child’s learning or social emotional needs. As a district we also have the responsibility of making sure
that our staff have a safe work environment.
We will continue to focus on learning and recognizing those who take pride in their schools and are
setting a good example to their peers. Thank you for taking a moment to bring attention to this topic at
home.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Gill
Superintendent
JENNIFER E. GILL • Superintendent
Administrative Center • 1900 West Monroe • Springfield, IL 62704-1599
217.525.3000 • TDD: 217.525.3023 • Fax 217.525.3005 • www.sps186.org