School system safe after threat made in Springfield

By STEPHEN SEITZ
Special to the Eagle Times
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Springfield students may return to class this morning, weather permitting. 

Springfield’s schools were closed Thursday due to a possible threat made by a student on Wednesday.

According to Springfield Police Chief Douglas Johnston, the department was alerted at 3:38 p.m. 

“We received a call about a student making an active threat,” Johnston said. “We met with the student and his family, and there is no threat to other students. School may resume [Friday].”

Springfield School District Superintendent Zach McLaughlin made the announcement closing the schools via Facebook.

At around 1 a.m. Thursday , McLaughlin posted, “This afternoon the school district became aware of a new threat against the high school. Since that time, we have been working diligently with law enforcement to assess the level of risk. At this point in the evening, we have been unable to complete that risk assessment to our satisfaction. Therefore, out of an abundance of caution, schools in Springfield School District will be closed tomorrow, Thursday November 15th.”

Attempts to reach McLaughlin for further comment were not successful. 

This is not the first time this year, or even this month, that the school system has had to handle threats. 

On Nov. 5, McLaughlin announced the resolution of a possible threat which came from New Hampshire.

“Over the weekend,” McLaughlin wrote, “the Springfield Police Department was notified by law enforcement in New Hampshire of a potential online threat made against Springfield High School. Springfield Police quickly investigated the report and met with the student who issued the threat and the student’s family. As a result of their investigation, they determined that the threatening statement did not represent a real danger to the school community.”

On March 1, McLaughlin issued a statement concerning another possible threat. 

“The high school administration has determined that a comment was made by a student that implied a threat,” McLaughlin wrote. “However, based on today’s investigative process, the Springfield School District and the Springfield Police Department feel that, if there was a threat, that threat has been mitigated. School will be open tomorrow, and while there will be a law enforcement presence on campus, it is for the peace of mind of all of you and not due to threat concerns.”

On Jan. 30, Springfield High School and the River Valley Technical Center were under lockdown for three hours after a student reported a possible threat. No threat was discovered, but school did not resume until the next day.