Okotoks Junior High School will open Friday, March 10 after being closed on Thursday due to a violent threat, which was overheard by a student.
Okotoks Junior High School will open Friday, March 10 after being closed on Thursday due to a violent threat, which was overheard by a student.
“School will be open tomorrow, classes will be conducted as usual,” said John Bailey, Foothills School Division superintendent of schools in a prepared statement.
“Increased security will be in place. Counsellors, administrative staff, and extra supports will be available to assist students who may require it.”
Okotoks RCMP have concluded their investigation of the incident, which occurred at the school on March 8.
A student of Okotoks Junior High overheard a conversation between other students after school on March 8, during which statements were made about carrying out an act of violence at the school on March 9.
RCMP has identified and interviewed the students involved and determined that while the conversations did take place, there was no plan and no intent to carry out the acts. For these reasons, no criminal charges will be laid in this case. The identities of the young persons involved will not be released.
The school division worked with the RCMP and a decision was made on March 8 at around 4:45 p.m. to close the school the following day. Parents were informed through social media, a phone-out system and media at around 6 p.m.
Jennifer Nelson has two children at OJHS. She was pleased with how the situation was handled by the division and RCMP.
“When you live in a small town, somebody says something, somebody says something else and it gets twisted and it gets blown up and rumours are flying around,” Nelson said. “I think the RCMP did a very good job of containing a situation, keeping the kids safe, investigating, resolving it and communicating with the town.”
She said she heard a variety of rumours, but the division provided information in a timely basis in regards to the situation.
“We were kept up to date with what we needed to know – not necessarily what we wanted to know but what we needed to know,” Nelson said.
She added there is one unsung hero in the story – the student who came forward to tell Okotoks Junior High School principal Leah Kingston what was overheard.
“If this was a real threat, not just big talk, this student is a hero,” Nelson said. “It turns out through the investigation there wasn't a real threat and everything is resolved.”
Anyone wishing more information may go to the division website at fsd38.ab.ca
