NEWAYGO, Mich. — Newaygo Schools are in “secure mode” Wednesday morning while public safety officials address a threat made against Newaygo High School.
Officials say they identified the threat and there is no active danger to the school or community.
Two students made threatening remarks prompting precautionary soft lockdown, Michigan State Police said. Those threats were deemed non-credible.
According to the Newaygo Police Department, two students have made threatening remarks which prompted a precautionary soft lockdown of the Middle and High Schools this morning. There is not an active threat in the school. pic.twitter.com/xDyuywHI16
— @MSPWestMI (@mspwestmi) December 8, 2021
Police sources tell us one of the students who made a threat was a high school student who was not in class today. That student posted a threatening message on social media. Police say the school went into Secure Mode while officials try to locate the student.
The other threat was made by a middle school student while in class. That student was removed from school.
Parents were told not to go to the schools, as no one will be allowed to enter or leave the school until the Secure Mode has been lifted, according to an advisory from Newaygo County Emergency Services.
Those who wanted to wait for their students were told to go to Resonate Church at 302 E. 68th St. in Newaygo and wait for further instructions from authorities.
“Although involved officials understand the anxiety and anxiousness regarding this situation, at this time there is NO immediate danger to the school or the public,” the advisory said. “This is a simply a precaution and mechanism to help keep the area clear as public safety personnel address the incident.”
Secure Mode means:
- All exterior doors are locked.
- No building entrance or exit
- No outside activities will take place, such as recess.
- Classroom doors may be locked.
- Students may be held in place with no hallway or open area activities.
It comes on the heels of a bomb threat made at Newaygo High School on Monday.
School administrators visually inspected classrooms, hallways and lockers to ensure there was no threat inside the building, Superintendent Jeff Wright said.
A person of interest was found and removed from the building.
"Please take this opportunity to talk with your children regarding the seriousness of making threats," Wright said in a letter to families. "Individuals cannot say, write, text or post (not even as a 'joke') a threat of any type, as these threats will be taken seriously and law enforcement will be contacted."
Officials say updates will be provided about Wednesday's incident through Nixle as they become available.
