A threatening message found on a bathroom wall at Amvet Boulevard Elementary has raised new concerns about school safety.
Members of the North Attleborough Police Department investigated the area on Nov. 18 after a written message on the wall of the girl’s bathroom was found by a staff member that morning.
In a memo to parents, Principal Alec Ciminello said the message was threatening in nature but did not go into the specifics of the written words.
“The police and superintendent were called immediately,” Ciminello said. “This threat was deemed non-credible by all professionals involved.”
Students were sent home early due to parent-teacher conferences scheduled that day. There was no confirmation that children or adults were in the school building after the threat was discovered.
Ciminello said this incident emphasized the importance of being vigilant when someone sees a threatening message or action.
“We would like to thank our partners in the North Attleborough Police Department for their quick action and diligence in assisting the staff at Amvet,” Ciminello said. “Please use this as an opportunity to discuss with your children the importance of reporting unsettling statements to adults.”
A representative from the NAPD said there is an active investigation into the incident and will provide additional updates as soon as possible.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Antonucci could not comment on the incident, due to the ongoing investigation.
This incident marks the second occurrence of a threatening message found at a North Attleborough public school this month.
On Nov. 1, a North Attleborough Middle School teacher found a written threat of a school shooting on one of the bathroom walls. Students on buses were re-routed to their stops, and the school day was canceled. An investigation conducted by the NAPD found no individual who wrote the threat.
“While it wasn’t a credible threat, you just didn’t know,” Antonucci said of the threat during a School Committee meeting. “It wouldn’t be responsible to bring the students to school and search backpacks and lockers one by one.”
