Negaunee schools closed Wednesday after report of threats

NEGAUNEE – Negaunee Public Schools closed Wednesday due to safety concerns, with administrators emphasizing there was no danger to students or staff.

The City of Negaunee Police Department received information from the FBI Detroit field office about a 15-year-old student who threatened to shoot up a school via the social media app Snapchat.

Negaunee Public Schools Superintendent Dan Skewis was immediately notified, following safety protocols and closing schools on Wednesday.

“Good morning. As you know, NPS was closed today due to a security concern we received this morning from the FBI and the Negaunee Police Department. I received this call at 6:35 this morning from our police department indicating that a young man from “15-year-old posted a message on Snapchat saying that there was going to be a violent act at school today.” Skewis said in an email to parents. “Due to the timing of the incident, and some of our students were already on a school bus, the decision was made to cancel all buildings due to this information. At 7:06 I received a call from the Negaunee Police Department. Our department informed us that although the child lives in Negaunee, he attends school in a neighboring district, so the threat is not imminent to NPS and is not directed at any of our school buildings.

“This news is both relieving and frustrating. The school will be closed for the day due to the difficulty of getting students to school on such short notice. All extracurricular activities will take place as scheduled. We will always put the safety of students and staff at the forefront of our operation. I apologize for this inconvenience. I hope you can enjoy your day.”

Contact was made with the student, who admitted to making the threat but claimed it was a joke, and the student’s father, who confirmed that the student does not have the ability or means to carry out the threat.

Other school districts in the area also took safety concerns seriously. Negaunee Public Schools were the only closure in the area, as NICE Community Schools and Marquette Area Public Schools remained open but were informed during the investigation.

“Our local law enforcement system worked well and in conjunction with the Negaunee administration,” NICE Community Schools Superintendent Bryan DeAugustine said via Facebook posts on the NICE Community School District page. “Negaunee reacted quickly and erred on the side of caution. They kept us informed at all times. Local authorities quickly contained the problem. If there had ever been any questions, we would have closed too. Times are strange and difficult. Still, I have great faith in our local law enforcement agencies and our neighboring schools, as well as our own.

“To reiterate, we were kept informed throughout the entire incident this morning. Our law enforcement agencies were aware of the issue and took immediate action. “Our school district was not involved.”

In a statement, Marquette Area Public Schools Superintendent Zack Sedgwick said, “This morning, MAPS administration became aware of a social media post involving a threat of violence toward a school. By the time MAPS administration was notified, the source had already been identified and interviewed. According to the police investigation, there was no viable threat to any MAPS students. Therefore, it was determined that MAPS would remain open today. This person’s comments are not permitted in any way and we intend to work with authorities to ensure they are held accountable for their actions. Unfortunately, due to the timing of the threatening comments, a neighboring district was forced to close.

“Please know that again there is no threat to MAPS students. Social media has allowed information to spread quickly and easily. Use this as an opportunity to educate your child about the importance of appropriate social media use. It is critical that students understand that any type of threat will be taken seriously and they will be subject to severe disciplinary action.

“As always, the safety of our students is our top priority. If you become aware of any concerning comments or behavior, please notify school officials or law enforcement. In closing, my greatest thanks to our law enforcement authorities for their prompt attention to this matter. “The diligence of these officials is paramount as MAPS continues to provide the safest learning environment possible for our students and staff.”