Summit HS graffiti threat brings more police, fewer students

Following a threat written in a bathroom at Summit High School, about 25 percent of students were absent Thursday, according to school district officials, who added that an upcoming holiday break likely added to the dip in attendance.

Summit High School officials informed parents Wednesday night that bathroom graffiti with a “threat toward our school” had been found, prompting temporarily increased police presence at all Bend high schools and a plea for information to help find who might have left the message.

“A responsible student came to us and reported that he had seen graffiti in a bathroom that he thought we should see,” said the e-mail distributed late Wednesday night. “Administrators responded and found a message with a threat toward our school.”

Students who attended school told NewsChannel 21 Thursday the threat put them slightly on edge.

“Either this is a really sick joke — and that’s not funny — and it also makes me feel a little bit nervous,” said senior Ashley Lutz.

The note to parents and students continued: “District officials and Bend Police were notified immediately and are assisting to find those responsible,” adding that the email was sent “because we want to find the student or students responsible and hold them accountable for disrupting our educational community in this way.”

“Be assured that we are also taking steps to ensure the safety of our students and staff, which will include a temporary increase in police presence on campus,” the email added.

Spokeswoman Julianne Repman said the district immediately took action, and asked police to step up patrols around area schools.

“Even though we have no reason to believe this is a credible threat to our school, we’re taking it very, very seriously,” Repman said. “We do not tolerate any sort of threat toward our students, are staff or even this community.”

Repman added: “We absolutely will not tolerate copy cats of this situation. Anyone found making any type of a threat to any of our schools will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Lutz said the recent shooting in Roseburg makes her think more about school safety.

“That hits pretty close to home, so it can happen and it does make me nervous,” Lutz said.

Students were encouraged to call the school’s main office at (541) 355-4000 or use the school’s anonymous “text to tip” phone number at (541) 241-8704 “with any information that they may have about the vandalism or person(s) responsible.”

“We believe that by working together with our staff, students and parents, we can expedite the investigation and help control rumors about the situation,” the note concluded, thanking parents and other recipients for their support.

Lutz said she appreciated the school’s response to the possible threat.

“I think it’s really good that they’re letting everybody know, and that there’s police officers here,” she said.

School district and police officials declined to be more specific about the threat, but indicated the school was otherwise on normal schedule and activities.