Extra safety precautions were made at two Chillicothe schools Thursday, after a threat was made.
According to Chillicothe City Schools, officials received notification Wednesday that an outside threat had been made regarding an individual associated with Chillicothe Middle School.
A letter from the district superintendent, indicated that officials have done what is necessary to ensure student safety at Chillicothe Middle School and Chillicothe High School, because they share the same facility.
The steps taken were precautionary measures, officials said.
District officials are working with law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of students and staff.
The schools were not locked down, according to Chillicothe police.
Chillicothe schools officials sent a phone message to
parents Wednesday, alerting them about the possibility of some type of threat
at the middle school.
Some parents said they were surprised.
"I was kind of alarmed in a way because, really, for
this school system, I haven't heard we get a lot of threats like that. It did
catch us off guard," a parent said.
School officials and police have not revealed the exact
threat, but told parents that there were extra steps taken to ensure student
safety.
The high school and middle school facilities share a
school resource officer.
Parents like Johnie Baker said she felt the school has a
good safety plan, and she let her child go to school Thursday.
"There was police this morning, so I felt that they
were aware of the situation. They were taking care of it the best they
could," Baker said.
But other parents said they didn't know about the threat.
"I didn't know about it and if I did, I would not
definitely brought my granddaughter to school today. She had been sick anyway
and if I knew there was a threat, she would have definitely stayed home,"
said Shirley Smyers, a grandmother.
As students were dismissed Thursday afternoon, there were
no problems, but many parents said they are frustrated at the threats.
"This is a good school. It really is. But stuff like
this has got to cease. It's got to end somehow," said Glen Farleigh, a parent.
Police said they are working closely with the school and
that the investigation continues.
Police said they will have the same safety measures in
place on Friday.
