In a telephone conversation later in the day, Cline said he couldn’t reveal names or classes of the boy and girl involved.

"Frenchtown School District does not condone this behavior and we are addressing it," he said. "I've been doing this 24 years as an administrator and have never seen anything like this before."

Sheriff spokeswoman Brenda Bassett said the department is aware of the posts and has school resource officer Rebecca Birket, a former detective, looking into “inappropriate, violent and racist content” posted on social media. The department's detective captain has also been involved, she said.

“We are also working closely with the county attorney’s office to see if any charges will be filed,” Bassett said.

“These postings are troublesome and we are taking this matter very seriously as we do all matters of public safety,” the sheriff’s office said on its Facebook page later in the day.

The Montana Human Rights Network is aware and concerned about the views expressed in the posts, said HRN co-director Rachel Carroll Rivas.