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Havre High School closed today due to possible threat

Havre High School was placed on a lockout this morning after more troubling graffiti was discovered within the school.

Havre Public Schools Superintendent Andy Carlson said it is a police matter at this point and therefore was limited on what he could reveal.

"Canceling school today is as much about us trying to put stuff in place so that we have a little better grasp," he said. "Obviously, we can't continue to operate the same way we've been operating. It's going to have an impact across the board, that's what's frustrating. I'll be real honest, this isn't how we want to run or operate any of our buildings."

Graffiti was discovered Monday in the upstairs boys' bathroom at 5:38 p.m. The district said in a post on its website that due to the specific nature of the threat, school would be canceled today.

Carlson declined to say what the graffiti said, saying the incident is under investigation by law enforcement.

Carlson added the high school is open all day and people are in there all the time. In previous instances, school has resumed, Carlson said, but this time is different.

"I've always said, 'If I was unsure or if I couldn't make sure that our students and our staff are safe, then we wouldn't bring them in,'" he said.

Carlson made the same declaration at the first School Safety meeting held at Havre High in October.

School is expected to resume Wednesday but with a closed campus.

The high school will be closed to the public for the remainder of the week, and students will only be allowed to be readmitted on school grounds with a parent or guardian physically present, Carlson said.

Students should also be prepared to have their backpacks and coats checked, he added.

"If you don't want your backpack searched," Carlson added. "Then leave it at home."

The only entrance that will be open the first part of the day will be the west entrance and at the end of the day, all students will exit via the main office entrance.

Carlson added that all activities not related to the high school have been canceled for the remainder of the week. The public will not be allowed on campus until further notice.

"Right now, we have a whole lot more questions than answers," he said.

Carlson said this incident is not related to the vandalism incident last week.

The district is having its board meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Havre Middle School. Carlson said he understands that people will have questions regarding the lockout, but he asked that everyone who attends wait until after the agenda is complete and then he will stick around to answer any questions the public may have.

The second School Safety meeting is scheduled for Dec. 4, but Carlson said he is willing to discuss those points tonight, as well.

The school was placed under increased security last week when graffiti was discovered in the upstairs boys' bathroom, as it was when graffiti was discovered Feb. 22.

A threat discovered in Havre Middle School March 21 led to that school being closed while authorities searched the building.

 

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