It seemed to be a bug that swept through both local schools and schools around the nation. Around here, the Rochester School District, the Oxford School District, West Bloomfield and Ortonville Brandon School District are all examples of districts infected, and last week, Lake Orion was added to that list as school threats were found at both Oakview and Scripps Middle Schools.
When students entered Oakview Middle School last Wednesday morning, they found their backpacks being searched by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department after the discovery of a threat the night before (Tuesday, May 8).
According to Assistant Superintendent Ken Gutman, it was a vague, non-specific threat found on the outside of the building. The threat itself did not even indicate that it was directed towards Oakview.
The district called in the Sheriff’s Department and the building was searched into the wee hours of the night, Gutman said.
‘There was really nothing to the threat,? said Gutman. ‘But in today’s society, you just can’t take chances with our kids.?
‘We did everything we could to ensure the safety of our kids,? he added, saying that district erred on the side of caution.
Students were asked to not bring backpacks to school for the remainder of the week and a letter was sent out to parents informing them of the threat and the precautions the school was taking.
Another threat was found at Scripps Middle School.
‘We had a student that wrote a note that was to the effect of causing damage to the school,? Gutman said. ‘Within minutes, (school officials) knew who the student was and took disciplinary action.?
Local districts, such as Rochester, have seen a slew of school-based threats in past weeks and Gutman said that Lake Orion will not take these threats lightly.
‘Anyone who threatens the safety of our students, whether there is merit to it or not, we will prosecute and discipline to the full extent that we can,? he added.