Officials in two area school districts took different approaches when responding to possible threats recently received.
Cori Reynolds, superintendent of Martin County West Schools, says district officials Monday afternoon became aware of a threat of violence to occur at the junior/senior high school.
In an email to parents, Reynolds says school officials met with Sherburn police and decided classes would not be held Tuesday and Wednesday.
“Because the safety of our students and staff is our highest priority, we have decided to close all Martin County West schools out of an abundance of caution,” she says.
All the school buildings were closed and activities before, during and after school — both home and away —- were canceled.
District officials are cooperating with the police department in an ongoing investigation.
Police Chief Brad Hughes says a student found a note in a classroom and took it to the principal’s office.
“It was handwritten, small and very brief. There was a threat of possibly being gun violence. But, it did not reference a specific date,” he says.
Local authorities say it’s unclear when the note was written and Hughes says, “It could have been stuck in this location since last week.”
Reynolds says parents of students in grades 7-12 are being asked to discuss the incident with their children and give any credible information to principal Michele Baker.
“If this is contributing to struggles your children are having with mental health, please reach out to their schools so we can help connect you with resources,” says Reynolds.
Meanwhile, officials at Granada-Huntley-East Chain School District would not comment on a tip received by Tripleanews.com that there was a “kill list.”
Taylor Topinka, middle and high school principal, says laws governing schools do not allow him to make a comment.
“We are not able to disseminate information on school topics or investigations without an educational need to know,” he says.
But he adds, “School safety and security is our top priority and we do take this very seriously.”