'Possible Threat' At Manchester HS Prompts Districtwide Closure

MANCHESTER, NJ — The Manchester Township School District has canceled classes at all its schools Friday while authorities investigate a possible threat to the high school.

Superintendent David Trethaway announced the closure late Thursday evening in a message that was delivered to students, staff and parents and posted publicly on the district's website.

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Trethaway said the closure was prompted by new statements made on social media "involving other individuals claiming to have knowledge of a possible threat at the high school."

"While these statements may be false, the police are investigating each individual to determine if any statement is based on a known fact or again are just more rumors," Trethaway said.

Text messages about a possible threat prompted an investigation Wednesday and a student has been removed from Manchester Township High School as a result, Principal Dennis Adams said in a letter to parents on Wednesday.

Trethaway in his letter Thursday night said Manchester police "have not had the time to fully investigate all statements and interview all individuals to make a final decision on the credibility of any statement of a threat."

That has prompted the district to cancel classes in all of the schools, Trethaway said.

"Although there has been no communication of any threat of any kind at any of the other schools, to avoid any concerns that parents, staff and students may have, all district schools and Regional Day School will also be canceled," Trethaway said.

There also will be no transportation to vocational school for Manchester students.

"I apologize for the inconvenience but since all statements and individuals cannot be fully investigated by the police at this time, we must take every step to ensure the safety of all of our students and staff," he said. "Every statement must be taken seriously and investigated by the police."

"Any individual who makes a threat or communicates a false rumor on social media will face serious consequences from both the police and the school district, as this is extremely dangerous," Trethaway wrote.

"I want to thank the Manchester Township Police Department for their assistance in addressing this situation and as always I want to thank the parents and staff for your understanding and cooperation," he wrote.

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