HADLEY — Hopkins Academy issued a shelter-in-place order Thursday after local police and school administrators learned of a possible threat posted to social media by a student.
Hadley police were contacted immediately, school officials said. The shelter-in-place was issued about 9:30 a.m. and ended when the campus was deemed secure by Hadley police at 10:35 a.m.
Three alerts went out to parents and guardians of academy students, notifying them of the situation. According to an email, the threat involved a student online. It was not directed at a particular individual or the institution, according to officials.
Law enforcement authorities will investigate to determine if criminal charges are necessary. District Superintendent Anne McKenzie wrote in an email that the school will take disciplinary action in accordance with the student code of conduct.
“When we are made aware of content or images that could be perceived as disturbing or threatening, we work quickly to identify the source of the content; we implement appropriate security measures to ensure student safety as we investigate the matter and collaborate with law enforcement as appropriate; and we communicate as quickly, clearly and as accurately as possible,” she wrote in an email later in the day.
McKenzie said she has been “in communication” with a student about the incident, but cannot yet provide further information.The Gazette will update this story as additional information becomes available.
Morgan Hughes can be reached at mahughes@umass.edu.