Recent Rumors of Violence in L'Anse Creuse Prove Unfounded, Superintendent Says
Rumors of violence have circulated in L'Anse Creuse and Chippewa Valley schools, but the districts have chosen to heighten their security rather than cancel classes.
Despite snow in the forecast, the weather wasn't the reason several Michigan school districts canceled classes Friday. The cancellation was due, in part, to rumors of violence at the schools. These rumors are similar to ones reported in L'Anse Creuse Public Schools.
On Wednesday, LCPS Superintendent Jackie Johnston sent out a message to parents informing them of rumors that had been going around in the school.
"Perhaps in light of the tragic events that occurred in Connecticut last week, there have been a number of rumors circulating on social media," the message said. "These rumors have been thoroughly investigated by administration with the help of local authorities. All rumors are unfounded."
Johnston stressed that the district is continuing to review its safety procedures and a L'Anse Creuse North student reported to Patch Friday that security within the school had been noticeably stricter, which included making sure students were in classrooms to be locked during the day.
In Chippewa Valley Schools, Dakota High School went into lockdown Tuesday afternoon after a gun threat was discovered on the wall of one of the school's bathrooms. The threat was found to be false, but the school and district has remained in a state of modified lockdown all week.
Friday is the one-week anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, CT, which killed six adults and 20 children.
Nana Pickles
11:50 am on Friday, December 21, 2012
Are all the classrooms doors kept lock? Any one can walk right through the office and into the hall ways to do harm to the children. How and when will you be able to improve this problem?
James Coller
9:57 pm on Friday, December 21, 2012
As a L'Anse Creuse North student, I know that in my experience classroom doors are supposed to be locked at all times, but rarely are due to the inconvenience to constantly have students knocking on the door to be let in. Lately though, as the article states, the school has been making sure that the policy is followed. I personally feel really safe at my school since every door is locked except the main door, which has a receptionist and our police liaison nearby.