Merrimack Valley High School Official Says Threat Just a Rumor

Merrimack Valley High School in Penacook was hit was an alleged threat on Dec. 19, that one official says was just a rumor.

Parents received automated phone calls from both the middle and high school of the Merrimack Valley School District at around 6 p.m. confirming that there were rumors of a threat against the school but the calls were limited on specifics, according to parents. The calls stated that officials would investigate and take every threat seriously.

Michael Jette, principal of the high school, told WMUR-TV that he went on the intercom to explain the situation to students, saying that if they had information, they should report it. No students came forward, he told the station. Rumors reportedly started on a school bus and then spread to Twitter and Facebook.

Jette said there was “heightened anxiety” due to the , shooting incident that took the lives of school personnel and 20 elementary school students. The incident, he said, was still being investigated but it appeared to be just a rumor.

Neither Michael Martin, superintendent of the Merrimack Valley School District, nor law enforcement officials returned emails requesting comment about the alleged threat.

A number of parents heard rumors about threat from their children and other parents before the robocalls were sent out to parents. Some heard that a boy at the high school had made threats on a social media site and that the Concord Police were investigating the incident. Others heard that rumors about the threat had spread from elementary school children on a bus and then made their way around to the other schools in the district.

School safety issues are on a lot of minds these days in the wake of the horrific shooting incident at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Concord Police say they are in touch with all of the schools in Concord and work with them regularly on safety issues. Police Chief John Duval confirmed last week that a recent mock incident training was held at Merrimack Valley High School to make sure public safety, first responders, and school officials are prepared for any potential school violence incidents.