Officials: District 833 violence rumors unfounded

Talk about it

Rumors of violence today at District 833 schools aren’t true, a district spokeswoman said.

According to a post on the district’s website, schools are “working through rumors having to do with violence” that was purported to occur today.

“All rumors have been unfounded,” the post states. “After thorough follow through with our local police departments, we are confident that the schools will be safe today.”

District 833 Communications Director Barb Brown said most of the rumors have involved Park High School, but declined to say if the rumors involved other buildings in the district.

Woodbury Public Safety Director Lee Vague this week ordered officers to provide a heightened police presence at Woodbury schools in response to the shootings a week ago at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. Vague said the increased presence, which began Monday, was made in consultation with District 833 Superintendent Keith Jacobus in an effort to reassure parents concerned with school safety after the Connecticut massacre.

Public Safety spokeswoman Michelle Okada today said the department “is continuing its efforts of an increased presence at Woodbury schools.”

“Woodbury Police take every potential threat to safety seriously and in this case worked closely with school and district staff to investigate the rumors, which are unfounded,” Okada said in a statement to the Bulletin.

Tags: crime and courts, district 833, news, education, crime