School security ramped up in wake of threat

A shooting threat discovered in a girls bathroom stall at Columbia Falls Junior High has prompted administrators to take extra precautions Friday.

School will remain in session, as the threat is not believed to be credible, according to Columbia Falls Junior High Principal Dave Wick. As a precautionary measure, students’ bags will be checked as they enter the building in the morning. There are about 480 students enrolled at the school.

Law enforcement will be at the school throughout the day. Doors will also be locked and manned by school staff.

The message, which stated there would be a shooting on April 27, was discovered by students in a bathroom located in the sixth-grade area and reported to administrators on Tuesday. Administrators immediately began investigating the threat and informed police. Parents were notified about the incident on Wednesday. On Thursday, Wick noted the day went great and he had one parent voice concerns.

“CFJH, along with all schools in the district, make student safety our number one priority. We are very thankful for the students who were vigilant and reported this immediately to school staff,” Wick stated in a message to parents.

While the school has a suspect in mind, the perpetrator’s identity can’t be confirmed at this time, according to Wick. Security cameras located outside the bathroom may assist in identifying the suspect.

“This offense, and any other offense that threatens student safety, real or not, will be met with severe consequences, including law enforcement charges. Penalties for this offense include suspension and possible expulsion, as well as felony charges through law enforcement,” Wick said.

A family fun night planned for today has been canceled.

This is not the first time the junior high has had to deal with these types of threats. Wick said that a bomb threat was made in a similar manner at the beginning of March. He said that police were notified and school staff searched the school. Bomb sniffing dogs were not required because a student admitted to making the threat according to Wick and is not longer attending the school.

In May 20016, a threatening message was found written on a bathroom stall at the junior high that read “school shooting 5-26,” according to a Hungry Horse article. School remained in session with a “beefed up” police presence.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.