Most Mtn. View HS students in class, despite bomb threat

(Update: Comments from parent, student, school district, police)

Despite a bomb threat that prompted a police investigation, assisted by the FBI, and a note to Mountain View High School parents Thursday night, Friday’s school attendance was fairly strong, officials said.

Attendance at Friday’s classes was down about 15 percent, according to Bend-La Pine Schools spokeswoman Julianne Repman. That includes math classes — the target of the threat that sparked the second such investigation in recent weeks.

Less than a month ago, a shooting threat led to discipline against a student and prompted many parents to keep their children out of school for a day. Only about half the student body attended class that day.

Parents and students seemed more at ease Friday. Josh Carson said his daughter went to school on both occasions, but he was less concerned this time around.

“You know, I really wasn’t worried about her coming to school today. I figured it was just kids that wanted to get out of class,” he said.

His daughter, Autumn Carson, said there were a lot of cops at school, and she felt very safe. “This time, there was a lot more (students) at school,” she said. “The first time, there was no one at all, but this time it wasn’t as big of a deal. ”

Repman said Friday’s threat could be a possible copycat.

“Often times, if you see a threat that comes in and there’s a pretty extreme reaction, (for example) the students are able to get out of a class or create a distraction that they’re looking for, you might see another copycat,” Repman said. “We do see copycats when activities like this happen throughout the country.”

Principal Katie Legace sent a letter to parents Thursday evening with details of the latest threat and investigation.

Here’s that letter, in full:

“Mountain View High Families,

“I am writing you tonight to share information about a bomb threat received by our school and to ask that you help us identify the person, or persons, responsible.

“Our school is committed to the safety and education of all our students and we want to clearly communicate with parents about safety issues when they arise. At this hour, we are working with local law enforcement and the FBI. They have an open investigation underway, and are allowing us to share that the threat came from a person threatening to blow up a math class at school tomorrow. Further details are being withheld to allow law enforcement the ability to properly interview and prosecute anyone found to be responsible.

“We will not tolerate this, or any continued threats to our students, staff and school and will work diligently to find those responsible and to ensure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“Further, sweeps of our school will take place between now and the start of school tomorrow morning, as well as at undisclosed times on Friday. We will have increased law enforcement at Mountain View on Friday and the law enforcement presence around schools throughout the district will be ramped up as well.

“We will have school tomorrow and Mountain View High School will continue to be a safe place to learn.

“We wanted you to have the facts so you can discuss them with your student and emphasize the seriousness of this issue. Students may face discipline for making verbal or written statements, even if perceived to have been in jest or in an effort to avoid a class/test, etc., if the statements cause a disruption to the learning environment. Additionally, the perpetrator will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, which could include restitution for the sweeps of our school and law enforcement efforts.

“I want to reiterate that we take threats to our safety very seriously. Though we do not share specific discipline information sanctioned against our students for threats to school, I do want to let you know that we disciplined a student for their participation in the October 10 threat shared with you last month, law enforcement pressed charges and referred the case to the District Attorney’s Office and a threat assessment was completed.

“If you discover anything that can assist in the investigation, please contact us immediately or call the non-emergency police phone line at 541.693.6911.

“Thank you for your support, Cougar community.

Katie Legace

Principal, Mountain View High School”

Bend police Lt. Clint Burleigh said the FBI’s involvement was only in information gathering. He said the department wanted to make use of all the resources available to them, and it is not unusual to involve the FBI. But he also said it has nothing to do with the severity of the case.

“They have obvious connections throughout the nation,” he said. “Maybe they have information we’re trying to find, or if we’ve subpoenaed companies to get their information. Sometimes they can help us to get that information legally and at a little bit quicker pace.”

Burleigh also clarified that police did not arrest or charge the student in the earlier matter, and only referred the case to the Deschutes County Juvenile Department for follow-up.