Threat prompts more Summit HS absentees

(Update: Absentism at 25 percent; update letter sent to parents)

Bend’s Summit High School operated fairly normally Thursday, except for a higher number of absent students and an increased police presence due to bathroom vandalism that included a presumed threat toward the school — a threat that officials said does not appear to be credible.

Bend-La Pine Schools spokeswoman Julianne Repman said absenteeism at Summit was about 25 percent on Thursday, about twice the typical count.

Here’s an update school officials sent parents in an email Thursday afternoon:

4:00 PM Update

“Summit High School families,

“We just wrapped up another good day at Summit High School. We had an incredible event in our library and dozens of students and staff participated in a Red Cross blood drive. In general attendance was down, but it was an overall normal day here.

“Law enforcement has deemed the threat not viable, as previously stated. That said, we will continue to look into leads and have increased police presence at school as we head into the weekend. We will also continue to exercise our safety plans and train to our protocols with students.

If you have questions, please call our main office (541-355-4000) and you will be directed to the individual best suited to address your concerns. Again, we appreciate your patience and support as we work to solve this frustrating and concerning event.

Thank you all for your support. We hope to see all of your students back at school tomorrow for another great day.

Summit High School Admin Team

And here’s the note sent at at mid-morning Thursday:

“Summit High School Families,

“I wanted to share a quick update to let you know that school is off to a good start today. Students are in good spirits and staff are here to support our safe learning environment.

“At this time, we have no reason to believe that the threat is credible… that said we are proceeding with an abundance of caution and ramping up police presence here at SHS and increasing resources to investigate, and hopefully identify, the source of the vandalism/threat. We are looking into some possible leads, but do not have a definitive source for the vandalism at this hour.

“If you have questions, please call our main office (541-355-4000) and you will be directed to the individual best suited to address your concerns. Again, we appreciate your patience and support as we work solve this frustrating and concerning event.

“We believe that by working together with our staff, students and parents, we can expedite the investigation and help control rumors about the situation. Your continued help in reducing the spread of inaccuracies today and every day is greatly appreciated!

“We are Storm strong!
Summit High School Admin Team”

The school said the vandalism was reported by a student after school Tuesday and parents were notified by emailed letter on Wednesday morning — well before the Florida high school shooting that claimed at least 17 lives.

Bend police Lt. Clint Burleigh told NewsChannel 21 Wednesday evening he had spoken with their investigator and had no new information to share, other than that “they are still working on the case.” Neither he nor Bend-La Pine Schools spokesman would confirm or deny a parent’s report that the threat involved a possible shooting.

Here’s the letter Summit administrators emailed shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday, in full:

“February 14, 2018

“Dear Summit families,

“After school yesterday, a responsible student came to us and reported vandalism in a bathroom. Administrators responded and found a threat, presumably toward our school. District officials and Bend Police are assisting to find those responsible. Be assured that we are also taking steps to increase security and the safety of our students and staff, which will include a temporary increase in police presence on campus for the rest of the week.

“This type of behavior is not indicative of Summit culture or students. We have no reason to believe that our school is anything but safe for all students today, as well as Thursday – the date noted in the vandalism. Additionally, we understand that in informing our community of this threat we run the risk of giving the student who made the threat the attention they seek or other students copying this behavior. However, we felt it was important to communicate with our parents about this situation this morning.

“Our teachers will be talking to students this morning and will stress that we absolutely will not tolerate copy cats of this situation. Those responsible for this vandalism and anyone else found making any type of a threat to any of our schools will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“It is our hope that by reaching out to our school community and students, that we will find the student or students responsible and hold them accountable for disrupting our educational community in this way – and get them connected with any necessary behavior health supports that they may need.

“Please encourage your students to contact the main office or use the SafeOregon tip line that they can find under the First Step icon on their iPad desktops with any information that they may have about the vandalism or person(s) responsible. You can download First Step on your own device. Search for First Step OR in your app store.

“We believe that by working together with our staff, students and parents, we can expedite the investigation and help control rumors about the situation. Thank you for your support.

“Sincerely,

Summit Admin Team”

The threat written in a Summit bathroom of a threat to the school echoed a similar incident in November 2015 that also brought extra patrols and a plea for information. About 25 percent of students were absent the day after that threat.

Last October, about half the students at Mountain View High stayed away and there was an increased police presence due to a rumored threat of a school shooting that spread like wildfire on social media.

The following month brought a bomb threat at Mountain View that prompted the FBI to assist in the police investigation that led to a 14-year-old Eugene boy. Police said the teen apparently was trying to disrupt a former friend’s school in another state, saying a former student would blow up a math class, but a Google search led him to the Bend school instead.

Such incidents are not limited to Bend. In December 2015, an anonymous comment posted on a social media app — ‘I wouldn’t go to school tomorrow ;-)’ led to increased police presence at Crook County High School, and a student from another school soon came forward to admit to it.