What happened?
On Wednesday, February 21, at approximately 4:45 pm, Corvallis School District administrators were contacted. A Linus Pauling student received a social media message that indicated a possible threat. The student’s parent contacted district officials to report the message. We notified local law enforcement and an investigation began.
Was there any immediate danger?
No. If there was an immediate danger, school would have been canceled. The message indicated a possible threat and did not mention Linus Pauling Middle School by name.
What actions were taken?
Local law enforcement opened an investigation. Although there was not a specific threat to the school, the decision was made to take extra safety precautions at the start of school today. This included the presence of School Resource Officer Hull as well as an additional police officer, and additional district staff at the start of the school day and during passing periods. All students, staff and visitors were required to enter through one door at the main entrance.
What is that status of this situation? What are you doing now?
The investigation has been completed. It was determined by the Corvallis Police Department that the student who claimed to receive the threat was the source of the post. This individual was charged with Disorderly Conduct I and Initiating a False Report.
The district’s safety leadership team will be reviewing the situation to review how we can continually improve communications to balance the need for parents who want to know details of what is happening and the school district’s handling of sensitive information that may interfere with an investigation.
School safety is a partnership between parents, students, staff members, law enforcement, and the entire community. We work every day to provide a respectful and safe school environment for all students. You are encouraged to stay informed about our safety practices and how we communicate in the event of an emergency.
- Keep your contact information up to date with school office staff
- Familiarize yourself with district safety protocols
- Read school communications and watch for school safety news
- Reinforce the importance of safety with your child
- If you have a safety concern, use the SafeOregon Tip line or call your child’s school