Classes went on as usual Monday at Oxford Middle School despite the threat that a bomb was going to explode at noon.
Following the discovery of a bomb threat in a restroom Friday (Oct. 26) afternoon, the middle school was repeatedly searched by staff, members of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department and bomb-sniffing dogs.
Nothing was found during any of the searches and the all-clear was given.
‘Everything seemed calm and business as usual (on Monday),? said sheriff’s Lt. Larry Perry, commander of the Oxford Twp. substation.
According to Superintendent Dr. Bill Skilling, sometime around 1 p.m. a student found a message written on a wall in one of the sixth-grade girls restroom stalls stating that a bomb would go off at noon on Monday, Oct. 29.
Skilling said this type of threat is considered to be in the ‘low risk category,? therefore the school was not evacuated and students were dismissed at their regular time.
However, all after-school clubs and activities at OMS were cancelled Friday so the sheriff’s department could come in and ‘secure the building.?
The decision not to evacuate the school was made for two reasons, according to the superintendent.
‘In the history of Michigan, there’s never been a bomb go off in a school after a bomb threat,? he said. ‘The reason these threats are made is to disrupt the education, get attention and get dismissed from school. If we did that, we would be doing what they want us to do and that would encourage more bomb threats.?
Immediately, after the threat was reported, Skilling said the entire building was checked by school staff.
‘We had every staff member, custodian, etc. check the building, check their classroom, to see if anything looked like it was out of place,? he said. ‘The people who work in the building are the most knowledgable. They would be the first to recognize if something was out of place.?
Following this check, it was reported that ‘nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary.?
The sheriff’s department also searched the restroom where the threat was found and some common areas with a bomb-sniffing dog. Nothing was found.
After school was dismissed, a second check of the entire building was performed.
Again, nothing was found.
The sheriff’s department did a thorough search of the school with three bomb-sniff ing dogs on Sunday, Oct. 28 between 9 p.m. and midnight. After receiving notification that the building was safe, the decision was made to hold school Monday.
As a precaution, students? backpacks, purses and packages were searched by staff as they entered school. However, luggage brought to school for the eighth-graders? overnight trip Monday to Camp Copneconic in Fenton was not checked.
All building entrances were secured and the main office entrance was supervised by school administration throughout the day.
The sheriff’s department provided a visible presence at the school when students arrived in the morning and around noon when the threat stated a bomb would go off.
At this time, neither school officials nor the sheriff’s department have any leads as to who wrote the bomb threat.
Skilling said they will be looking into identifying the responsible party or parties.
A $100 reward is being offered for information that leads to the apprehension of the individual(s) responsible.
Lt. Perry said whoever is responsible for the threat could face felony charges and their parents could be financially responsible for the ‘tremendous amount? of overtime worked by sheriff’s personnel as a result of this incident.
If you have any information or questions, contact OMS Principal Ken Weaver at (248) 969-1800.