Editor’s note: This article was originally published by the Valley News on May 22.
RANDOLPH — Authorities said the schools in the Orange Southwest Supervisory District are safe after police investigated an alleged shooting threat which prompted officials to cancel school districtwide on Tuesday.
“After a thorough investigation, there is no belief that the safety of our schools or students are compromised,” Superintendent Layne Millington said in a written announcement to the school community. “School will be back in session (on Wednesday).”
Schools in the district were closed on Tuesday as police investigated allegations that a student claimed he was going to “shoot up” a Randolph school, according to a news release from Randolph police.
Police said they “did not believe any action will take place,” but were closing and locking schools “out of an abundance of caution.”
Speaking at the Randolph Union High School building on Forest Street, which also includes middle school and technical career center students, Randolph Police Chief Daniel Brunelle said police believe the threat resulted from an altercation between two middle-school boys.
After a parent called police about 11 p.m. on Monday, she and her son then came in to the department for an interview, identifying the other boy only by a first name and description.
Police notified Millington and “due to the nature of the statement with the addition of a specific time frame,” schools were closed.
On Tuesday morning, police said they believed they knew the identity of the boy and a “threat assessment” was being conducted. Brunelle said he does not expect to bring charges against anyone.
Brunelle said there is no reason to believe there was anything dangerous inside the building, but he and a sheriff’s deputy checked all doors and windows on the first floor.
The school is conducting its own investigation and reviewing security video, Brunelle said.
A “skeleton staff” worked at the school on Tuesday, he said, mostly facilities employees.
In the announcement, Millington said that there would be an increased police presence at the building on Wednesday to “increase folks’ peace of mind,” and Randolph Union High School staff would “prepare a facilitated discussion for the students in their advisories to process through any worries or concerns they may have” on Wednesday morning.
“The discussion will also focus on the need for students to be especially aware of comments they may make and the impact they may have given the heightened sensitivity to school violence in our country,” Millington said. “Guidance and counseling staff will be available to support any students that may need extra care.
“I also want to take this time to commend the students who step forward to notify the school when they hear or see things that are inappropriate or out of place; as those actions are frequently the most effective when it comes to preventing school violence.”
In addition to Randolph, the district’s towns include Braintree and Brookfield.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Orange school district closes for day after shooting threat.