Regular schedule for schools after Sunday threats to Elmore County Schools

A Millbrook Middle School student made threats against Elmore County Schools Sunday, according to superintendent Richard Dennis.

As threats to schools circulated among Montgomery schools over the weekend, they extended into Elmore County Schools Sunday night. Many were visible on social media.

“Law enforcement visited a 12-year-old from Millbrook Middle School,” Dennis said. “I don’t know if it is related to the situation in Montgomery or not.”

Tallassee City Schools superintendent Dr. Brock Nolin said his system hasn’t experienced the threats seen across the state.

“It is school as usual for us thus far today,” Nolin said at 11 a.m. Monday. “We are operating under heightened awareness.”

As of 11 a.m. Elmore County Schools were reporting more than 36% of the student population as being absent from school. It equates to about 4,000 of the 11,000 students enrolled in county schools.

“We have more students checking out now,” Dennis said at 11 a.m.

The absences forced Dennis to cancel all extracurricular activities for Monday.

“With all the absences, we can’t field teams,” Dennis said.

Elmore County High School volleyball was set to host Horseshoe Bend and Percy Julian at Wetumpka volleyball games have been canceled.

Dennis said lots of law enforcement are involved in investigating the matter and as of 6 a.m. Monday Elmore County Schools were following a regular schedule for schools on Monday.

Before he went to bed Sunday, Dennis said he was aware of the threats in Montgomery.

“I got a call from my staff (Sunday night) about the situation in Millbrook,” Dennis said. “I think a girl is now regretting what she did. To my knowledge, she has never been a discipline issue before.”

Dennis said many precautions were being taken Monday to help ensure students were safe but could not disclose them. He said all threats were being taken seriously, though Dennis believes Sunday night’s threats were not serious.

“We do not believe the threat made on Sept. 8 to be credible, but law enforcement is still working to investigate the matter,” Dennis said in a statement.  

Retired Elmore County deputy sheriff Rickey Lowery is over the Elmore County Schools school resource officer program. He has been involved in looking into the threats over the weekend across the state and in particular in Elmore County since Sunday afternoon.

"We are working with other agencies on (social media) posts from yesterday," Lowery said.

Dennis said the Elmore County Board of Education intends to prosecute those responsible for the threats. 

Lowery said law enforcement are working to protect and make sure schools are safe.

"The SROs, deputies and local law enforcement agencies are providing extra patrols Monday," Lowery said.

Dennis added, “We are following our safety protocols with law enforcement on every campus, locked doors and heightened security measures in front offices. We are following all our state approved safety plans.”  

At 9:30 a.m. Dennis said all campuses were clear of any incident despite social media reports.

Dennis said students who were absent from school due to the threat will be excused and not count against the board’s exemption or truancy policy.

This story will be updated as accurate information is available.