It was a tense morning at Whitecourt’s Hilltop High School on Tuesday as the threat of a school shooting brought in enhanced security measures.
On Feb. 7, Whitecourt RCMP received a report from Hilltop High School of a threat that was discovered written on a bathroom stall. Mounties say the information received referred to shooting at the school on Feb. 8. Whitecourt RCMP opened an investigation into the threat and began safety planning with the school, while the Northern Gateway School Division notified parents through a series of phone calls.
Whitecourt RCMP worked with the school district to determine an appropriate response and were present at the school on Tuesday.
School district officials say everyone was sent into the school through a single entrance, and RCMP went through schoolbags to make sure nothing was being brought in.
Northern Gateway School Division Superintendent Kevin Bird says the school division has worked with international partners to develop a plan for these situations.
“That information has resulted in specific training that our staff takes part in,” explains Bird. “It has developed these really intense checklists that we go through whenever there is a threat made, and then there are prescribed outcomes based on what we see there.”
There is no school on Feb. 10 and 11 due to a teacher’s convention. Given this is a short week, Bird understands if parents choose not to send their kids to school on Feb. 8 or 9.
“A large number of students chose not to come to school today, which makes some sense when you think about the threat being very specific to a day,” says Bird.
Bird thanks the RCMP for their assistance.
“The RCMP are just shining examples of how to operate in a situation like this, and we are very fortunate to have partners like that,” says Bird, adding parents can expect a second call from the school division on the evening of Feb. 8 updating them on the situation.
RCMP, meanwhile, say each threat is evaluated individually, and every effort is made to keep students safe. School officials and police aim to balance the need to minimize disruptions to student learning with the need to ensure student safety. Mounties say that often requires police attendance to evaluate the safety of school grounds, or increased patrols for non-specific threats.
“Whitecourt RCMP take threats like these very seriously as they can have a significant impact on students, staff, families and our community’s feeling of safety and mental wellbeing,” reads a statement from Whitecourt RCMP.
The investigation is ongoing at this time and Whitecourt RCMP are asking the public’s assistance for any information in relation to this incident (or identifying those responsible). Contact Whitecourt RCMP at 780-778-2238 or your local police. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.
