'Vague Threat' Directed at Salem's Walker Middle School

The kids have plenty of excitement this time of year, their principal says, without this kind of interruption.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - Extra security is in place at Salem's Walker Middle School today over what the school's Principal Tricia Nelson described as a "vague threat" that was directed toward the school on Monday.

"It was very vague threat; it specified today but that was the only thing noted," Nelson said.

"We are always dilligent with security and today we have a couple of extra people from the district just to keep an eye on things."

She says that the extra precautions are not only the right thing to do, "but there are also some legal pieces around it," she added.

In order to contact families, Nelson says a letter was sent out on Friday. That was followed by a phone message to advise families that school would go on as normal.

Nelson says one of the reasons they don't want to over publicize events like this is because it encourages copy cat crimes and other behavior.

The kids have plenty of excitement this time of year, their principal says, without this kind of interruption.

"Yes, the kids are gearing up for Valentine's Day, there is an upcoming wrestling match, band concerts and other things coming up. If we can just keep focused on the educational matters we will be doing very well.

Nelson said one of the kids said, "why would someone want to do this to our school, this is where we hang out."

Nelson said she hopes those words reach whoever is responsible for today's school threat.

You can visit Walker's Website at this address: walker.salkeiz.k12.or.us