Two more bomb threats were found in Oxford Schools this week, bringing the total up to four since Friday, Oct. 26 ? two at the middle school and two at the high school.
A bomb threat was found by a student written inside a stall in the sixth-grade girls restroom at Oxford Middle School around 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8.
The threat was found in the same restroom that the Oct. 26 threat was discovered, but in a different stall.
It referenced that a bomb would go off on Friday, Nov. 9, according to Superintendent Dr. Bill Skilling.
Because the threat is considered ‘low risk? and it specifically referenced the next day, classes were dismissed at the regular time and after-school activities at the middle school were not cancelled.
The building was thoroughly searched by school staff and nothing was found, according to Skilling.
Before classes resume on the morning of Nov. 9, OMS will be searched again by custodians as they do their usual cleaning and by canine units from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department.
Middle school students? backpacks, purses and packages will be searched by school staff as they enter school Nov. 9, according to Skilling.
On Nov. 6, two bomb threats were discovered in a boys restroom across from the Performing Arts Center at Oxford High School. They were found by a student in the early afternoon.
Skilling said the first was on a wall and simply read, ‘BOMB Kaboom.?
A more detailed message was written in one of the restroom stalls.
Skilling said the second message indicated a bomb was going to be delivered in a United Parcel Service (UPS) truck at 11:07 a.m. on Nov. 7.
The message writer threatened to detonate the bomb if the school was not evacuated.
Classes were dismissed at the regular time. The building was thoroughly searched by both school staff and bomb-sniffing dogs, but nothing was found, Skilling said.
As a precaution, the superintendent said, ‘We contacted UPS as well as (Federal Express) and told them not to deliver any packages so all of our shipments that were due the next day were held up.?
Also, on Nov. 7, about 30 minutes prior to when the bomb was supposedly going to be at the school, sheriff’s units were posted at each of the OHS driveways and deputies checked incoming vehicles.
Because it was ‘too late? in the day to notify parents, and school officials and sheriff’s investigators wanted to ‘have a better chance of catching the person who’s responsible,? Skilling said the decision was made to keep the threat ‘under wraps? so law enforcement could follow up on some leads the next day.
Cameron Bejamin Blankenship, a 17-year-old high school student, was arrested Nov. 7 for a Nov. 2 bomb threat at OHS. See related story on-line.
Letters regarding these latest bomb threats at the middle and high schools will be sent home to parents on Nov. 9.
Skilling wished to assure parents that in all four of these bomb threats standard precautions were taken.
‘Every time we have a threat there are procedures that are automatically put in place that are provided to us by the Michigan State Police as well as local law enforcement officials,? the superintendent explained. ‘Sometimes we’re not going to be able to immediately communicate this to parents, but always know that we are working with professionals and that we’re following a plan that’s been given to us by them.?
‘We take each one very seriously so just because we say it’s in a low risk category doesn’t mean we don’t give it a high priority in terms of how we do due diligence and make certain that it’s a safe environment for our kids,? Skilling noted. ‘We’re never going to take any of (these threats) lightly.?
Skilling said from now on, the Oxford school district has a ‘standing offer of a $2,000 reward for anybody who provides information? leading to the arrest of anyone who makes any type of bomb threat against a school.
The superintendent wished to remind parents and students that anyone caught making a bomb threat against a school faces felony criminal charges, the prospect of making financial restitution to law enforcement agencies for their time and resources, and expulsion from school.
‘When you’re expelled in Michigan, you’re expelled from all public schools,? Skilling said. ‘There’s a huge price to pay for something like this.?
Anyone who has any information regarding the bomb threats in Oxford is asked to call the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department at (248) 858-4950 (Pontiac) or (248) 969-3077 (Oxford Twp. substation).