WARSAW — Officials with Warsaw Community School Corporation uncovered a plan from a student to public defame a staff member at Lakeview Middle School. A post on social media was circulating, which accused a Lakeview staff member of “strip searching” female students while inspecting them for signs of cutting, a form of self harm.

The allegations against staff was shared multiple times on social media, resulting in action taken by the school system.

According to Dani Barkey, the corporation’s chief accountability officer, a full investigation into the allegations was conducted.

“Any time something like this comes to our attention involving student welfare, we take that very seriously,” Barkey said. “As a result of our investigation however, we got a written statement from a student admitting to creating a fake Facebook page with false information in it. They admitted it was a false statement.”

Barkey said the ability to create such social media pages puts everyone at risk, in this case a member of the Warsaw Community School Corporation staff. “Social media gives a platform for anyone to make unfair statements, and by passing these on, it gives credence to their validity.”

Barkey said the corporation is planning disciplinary action against the student.