MONROE, Michigan — Classes are canceled at two area high schools Tuesday while school officials and law enforcement investigate a potential threat to school safety.
There will be no school at Monroe High School and Orchard Center High School on Tuesday, Dec. 7, according to a letter sent to families in the Monroe Public Schools district.
The district says the source of the potential threat was reported late Monday afternoon by students and parents.
By Tuesday morning, school officials said a student confessed to making the threat after being questioned Monday night. The suspect is being held at the Monroe County Youth Center.
"Our district will continue to work with law enforcement and the Monroe County Prosecutor's Office as this case moves through the judicial process," Superintendent Julie Everly said in a letter to parents. "In response to copy-cat threats following the violence that occurred at Oxford High School, Monroe Prosecuting Attorney Michael Roehrig issues a statement Friday reminding the community that 'the crime of intentionally threatening to commit an act of violence with a dangerous weapon against a school is a felony' and that his office will 'prosecute offenders and bring the full weight of the criminal justice system to bear in holding them accountable.'"
The threat was described as a social media post that "contained emojis and stick figures depicting shooting violence" with a caption warning of "school violence" on Tuesday at Orchard Center and Monroe high schools.
Monroe police and the Monroe County Sheriff's Department were contacted to investigate the message.
A second school safety update sent by Monroe Public Schools reads, in part: "Due to ongoing and continued investigation of the threat, there will be no school at Monroe High School and Orchard Center High School, tomorrow, Tuesday, December 7, 2021. Classes will remain in session at all other MPS schools. As an additional safety precaution, there will be an increased police and security presence in our school community."
District leaders, working with the police and sheriff's department, are confident in being able to assess the credibility of the threat.
As a reminder, you're encouraged to reach out to family, teachers, counselors and school administrators if you have any information to keep schools safe.
You can also anonymously report any threats to school safety through Michigan's Ok2Say program 24/7 at this link: www.michigan.gov/ok2say/