Oak Park schools will be closed for the rest of the week because of a threat.
The school district released the following statement on the situation:
Oak Parks Schools will be closed Thursday and Friday, March 22 and 23, 2018 for safety and security reasons, due to social media posts with threats against schools in the district.
On Wednesday, March 21, 2018, we were open with heightened security and on high alert. All went well, but there was extreme anxiety due to the unsettling posts. Social media posts with threats against schools were reported at more than 30 schools/districts in Metro Detroit/Southeastern Michigan. Oak Park Schools handled being open, using every precaution, in coordination and consultation with Oak Park Public Safety. Oak Park Public Safety was in full visibility at every school throughout the district.
The threats that have been received are anonymous. Oak Park Public Safety is working with other departments and divisions to fully investigate the threats against any and all Oak Park Schools.
Threats against schools are taken very seriously and the consequences for committing such acts will be enforced to the fullest extent by Oak Park Schools and Oak Park Public Safety. Those who are found to be committing the act of creating and posting threats against Oak Park Schools will be prosecuted.
If you see or hear something, please say something. We must work together to keep our schools safe. Again, I urge parents to monitor their child’s social media accounts, while encouraging them to make good decisions.
Please continue to partner with us, as we increase our safety and security protocols and keep all students and staff safe daily.
Daveda J. Colbert, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Oak Park School District
Police are not commenting beyond confirming the existence of the threat.
