A student in the Northshore School District (NSD) recently posted a threatening photo to social media that was, seemingly, directed toward the Muslim families in the district.

An email from NSD superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid was sent out to parents and families the night of April 24.

According to the email, the post has been removed from social media.

“The post was hateful and offensive, and our administrative team has taken immediate action. As we take these threats seriously, we have contacted the local authorities and filed a police report,” Reid said in the email. “In addition, we have contacted the family of the student and the image has been removed. We reported the post to the social media platform as hate speech.”

Reid assured the email recipients that the district is taking appropriate action and the student will not return to campus until a full investigation is completed.

Reid also wrote that she was saddened to have to repeat that hate speech and actions will not be tolerated in the district.

“There is simply no place for it,” she wrote in the email. “And if it occurs, we will respond accordingly.”

Reid told families that the district wants to be a place where every member of the community feels safe, respected and welcome.

“We value each of our students, our families, our staff, and community members. I want to send my deepest regrets to our Muslim families as this incident does not represent our values and beliefs as a school district,” she wrote.

To learn more about the district’s policies regarding harassment, intimidation and bullying, visit the district website.

A copy of Reid’s email was posted to the closed NSD Discussion Group on Facebook, on which several NSD parents and families commented.

Maha Yehia, a Bothell resident said she believes the incident should be addressed in a different way.

“As a [Muslim woman], reading this email, I felt like this incident should be addressed in a different way. After all, this is a kid who has the wrong ideas and thoughts. [They] shouldn’t be punished, [they] should be taught and corrected,” she wrote on the Facebook page. “Punishment will make [them] more angry and more convicted that [they] are right.”

Yehia said she recommends the student meet some Muslim families or even spend a day with them and/or the student and their family visit a mosque as part of a correction act.

The Reporter reached out to the communications department for the district, but was unable to obtain any additional information.