Dear Niskayuna High School Parents:

The purpose of this letter is to provide some information regarding the safety concerns at Niskayuna High School surrounding two YouTube videos last week. We need your help to ensure that the environment at Niskayuna High School is positive and focused on student learning, not on rumor and innuendo.

Last week, two videos circulating on YouTube included threatening statements about two Niskayuna students. The Niskayuna Police Department’s active criminal investigation into the source of these videos is continuing. We are working closely with the police and the families of the students mentioned in the videos on this matter. Student safety is our highest priority.

At this time, the police investigation is continuing. If you or your child have specific information pertinent to the concerns being investigated by the police, please communicate that information with the police or a High School administrator. Contact information is as follows:

Niskayuna Police Department – 374-3159
Principal John Rickert – 382-2511 ext. 21702; jrickert@niskyschools.org
Assistant Principal Rebecca Gleason – 382-2511 ext. 21709, rgleason@niskyschools.org
Assistant Principal Mark Treanor – 382-2511 ext. 21704, mtreanor@niskyschools.org

On Friday, High School Principal John Rickert sent an e-mail to parents about this issue utilizing three distribution lists that the school and PTO use. These include the principal’s e-mail list (sign-up by calling or e-mailing Mr. Rickert); Niskayuna School News Notifier (https://snn.neric.org/niskayuna/) ( and the PTO’s Buzzable mailing list (http://www.niskypto.org/Mailing-Lists.html) If you are not on these lists we encourage you to sign up for them at the links above.

The concern surrounding the YouTube videos and subsequent rumors and speculation have combined to create an atmosphere at the high school that is less than ideal. We want all students to feel safe and secure on our campus and in our schools. Please help us. Please:

• Reaffirm that school is a safe place to be. Adults at school will do whatever it takes to keep students safe. Students and parents can help us by not engaging in the spread of rumors or speculation. Most of what is circulating right now is rumor or speculation.
• Encourage your son or daughter to talk to a trusted adult at school if he or she has a cause for concern or worry – or has heard something and is not sure what to think.
• Speak with your children about the importance of appropriate behavior online. A good information resource on this topic is “On Guard Online,” the federal government’s resource site for safety, security and responsibility on the Internet and other electronic devices. The site is http://onguardonline.gov/. It includes tips for parents of teens who use social networks, information about children and online privacy issues, and more.

Thank you for your attention to this important information. We understand your need for up-to-date information. Principal Rickert will continue to provide information parents using his e-mail list. Again, please contact his office to sign-up to receive updates.

Susan Kay Salvaggio
Superintendent, Niskayuna Schools