Threat leads to closing McGregor school for day

Classes were dismissed Wednesday at the McGregor Independent School District in a precautionary measure after a possible threat to the school.

"We just decided to err on the side of caution and get the kids home," said School Superintendent Paul Grams.

Grams said it was a vague threat and did not target specific students. But Grams said he did not want to release additional information since students are being questioned to determine who was involved.

The written threat was reported to the assistant principal Wednesday shortly after school started at 8:30 a.m. By 9:20 a.m. classes were dismissed and buses were recalled to take students back home. Some parents picked their children up at the school. Grams said the dismissal went smoothly.

Grams said the threat was so vague if the language were in another public place, even a mall, it would not have worried many people but in the school setting it was important to treat the threat seriously. The school's camera system identified which students were in the area at the time.

"We know the time frame and students there prior to the situation," Grams said.

Grams said the disruption to classes, families and students places a high degree of importance on finding who is responsible and making them accountable for their actions. He said that sentiment is shared with students and the community. Because of the threat, student athletes were not able to participate in a junior high conference track meet.

"It disrupts the lives of so many people," Grams said.

The school district has about 380 students in grades K-12 and uses a single building for elementary and high school students.

Classes are scheduled to resume Thursday.

RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.