Lake Orion High School became the latest prey of a ‘common prank? last week, when a threat was found on the wall of a stall in a boys? bathroom.
‘While this type of graffiti is a common prank in schools, we are taking it very seriously as the safety of our students and staff is our top priority,? the district said in a statement released last Wednesday.
The message contained a threat to the general student body, specifically citing Thursday, Dec. 13, and as a precaution, students were not allowed into school Thursday or Friday with backpacks.
Extra personnel were called in and the high school was thoroughly searched prior to operations on Thursday.
‘There’s a tremendous cost in terms of time and emotional strain involved,? said District Superintendent Christine Lehman, crediting the staff of the school for their efforts.
‘It takes away from the task that we’re all about,? she added.
A Wednesday choir concert, originally scheduled for the high school’s Performing Arts Center, was moved to Oakview Middle School, and several after school sports practices, typically held inside the high school, were also moved to various Lake Orion schools.
Lehman said the school was ‘very organized? and dealt with the situation extremely well.
She noted that attendance on Thursday was down slightly from an average day. It was back to a normal level, however, on Friday.
‘Anyone involved in writing the threat will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,? Lehman said, adding that the district is pursuing the offender(s).