School threats: credibility vs safety

GREENVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) - Dozens of school districts across Michigan -- including a few in West Michigan -- canceled classes Thursday after rumors of threats.

On Friday, Kalamazoo Public Schools shut its doors for similar reasons.

Following the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, school officials have a heightened awareness.

After the 1999 tragedy at Columbine High School, there were similar threats to schools. In the weeks following that event, 30 West Michigan school districts received bomb threats, some multiple times.

State law requires that if a student makes a bomb threat or a similar threat directed at a school building, the threat will be reported to law enforcement and may be considered acts of terrorism.

But in Greenville Friday morning, they had a threat -- and opted to stay open.

A student sent a tweet about killing herself and others if the world didn't end Friday, as predicted by the Mayans.

"Even though there was not a specific threat to the school you could read it several ways," Todd Oatley told 24 Hour News 8.

School leaders called police, who went to the girl's home to see if she had the weapons or the desire to hurt herself or anyone.

Investigators decided the tweet wasn't really a threat to the school, and the day went on as usual. But the student stayed home while a decision is made if she will face any discipline.

"Ever since Columbine, that really changed the game for everybody," Oatley said.

Officials who spoke with 24 Hour News 8 said threats need to be investigated and treated seriously, and should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

"I think if you throw a blanket over everyone and say everytime you get a threat we're going to close school down, that becomes pretty well known within the student population," retired police sergeant and security expert Gary Valentine told 24 Hour News 8.

He said it's important to decide if a threat is specifically directed towards a school. Once any immediate threat is handled, then it's time to look into who the student is, what their discipline background is and if they've had any problems with the law before.  

"I think once things calm down and the investigation continues you get more into that background and history and you're able to determine, number one, the credibility of the threat and, number two, why is that child reaching out like he is."