VERNONIA, Ore. (KOIN) — Vernonia schools operated in lock out Friday, May 6, due to a “potentially credible threat of violence,” according a letter sent to families earlier this week by superintendent Aaron Miller.
Lock out means that classes carry on as normal, but no one is allowed in or out of the school, including parents. Parents were only allowed for drop off and pick up times.
There was also an increased police presence in the schools Friday.
Two of Jessica Llanos’ 3 kids are in school, and she sent them to classes Friday confident that the district and police would keep them safe. “The school did a good thing as just a precaution,” she said.
Some parents had a different idea. Police say district wide, 244 of 525 students stayed home. Most absences were in Veronia’s two elementary schools.
The alleged threat was made in the form of a drawing, which was found by a student in the hallway and turned in to a teacher, according to Miller.
Parents sounded off on social media, including Lisa Curry, who wrote “I hope more than anything that if this young person made a poor choice, we as the small community we are, use this as a tool to help the child, and that family, and educate our young people at the same time. Let’s not shame/blame.”
Lanos agrees. “Kids are kids, they are going to do stupid things,” she said. “It’s a drawing. I didn’t think anything would come of it at all.”
There are 4 schools in the Vernonia district, 2 elementary schools, a middle school and a high school.
Miller’s letter said the person who made the threat had been identified and police are investigating.