SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Spokane Valley resource deputies are investigating a threat on a bathroom wall at East Valley High School on the same day Central Valley High School canceled class for a similar threat.
East Valley High School administrators and a resource deputy were made aware of a message left on a bathroom wall on Friday at 11 a.m., according to a release from the school. The note said not to attend school on Nov. 25.
A similar incident happened at a nearby school district. Central Valley High School sent an alert just after 8:15 a.m. on Friday that said the school was on lockdown due to a "possible threat." A little over an hour later, the school announced that students were being evacuated and sent home. This threat was also written on a bathroom wall.
Spokane Valley deputies are investigating the validity of the potential threat and who is responsible for writing it. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call Crime Check at 509-456-2233, reference #10165745.
At this time the district said it is still planning to open school on Monday but students who choose to stay home will be excused.
East Valley School District Superintendent Kelly Shea sent the following letter to parents and staff.
At approximately 11:00 a.m. today, a concerning message was written in the boys’ bathroom at East Valley High School. The message said, “11-25-19 Don’t come to school. Don’t gotta believe me.” This message comes on the heels of a threat at Central Valley High School this morning resulting in a lockdown and closing of school.
Currently, our deputy resource officer and administrative team are investigating the matter to determine the credibility of the message and identify who wrote it. Please talk with your children to see if they know anything and please send me any information you may have (sheak@evsd.org).
At this point, we are planning to have school on Monday. We are in the process of asking for additional law enforcement presence at our high school. These events create fear and anxiety for all of us. If you choose to keep your children home, I completely understand, and his or her absence will be excused. However, students who do not attend school on Monday will not be able to participate in extracurricular activities on Monday.
As we work on this issue today and over the weekend, a decision to cancel school may be determined so please watch the news as well as your email and text messages for any announcements.
There are lots of questions and I apologize for not having the answers, but we are determined to get to the bottom of this and ensure the safety and security of our students and staff.
Law enforcement asks parents to talk to their school-age children about the seriousness of making threats, regardless of the reason.
Officials said children should remember if they see something, they should say something.
