School district provides update on security measures after finding threatening message

PENTICTON – Following the discovery of a note threatening harm to students at Penticton Secondary School on Feb.18, School District Superintendent Wendy Hyer issued a communication Thursday, Feb. 19 explaining the district’s Threat Assessment Protocol.

The protocol was developed in order to respond to situations where students may be a threat to themselves or others.

The district followed the protocol in this case, and under that guidance, the RCMP currently heads the investigation, with the school district cooperating to ensure the safety of all personnel at the district’s schools.

RCMP officers were stationed at Penticton Secondary, Princess Margaret Secondary and Skaha Lake Middle School today while several investigators began following up on new leads presented by the public.

Increased security efforts included locking of all exterior doors, except for each school’s main entrance, and teachers were also directed to keep classroom doors locked.

Friday, Feb. 20 is a scheduled professional development day for District #67 schools and there are no classes. It is hoped the police investigation will lead to the identification of those involved in the threat.

Superintendent Hyer said parents have reacted in different ways to news of the threat, noting some parents elected to keep their children home from school today. She said police will be maintaining a presence at district schools tomorrow, regardless of the fact there are no classes.

Hyer advised the public to check the district’s website at www.sd67.bc.ca or follow local media for updates.

In School District 53, Okanagan Falls Elementary will also be closed tomorrow in order to allow police the opportunity to concentrate their efforts on their investigation. For further  information, check the district website or local media.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.