School officials defend giving false reason for school closing

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn.- A school superintendent defended her decision to tell students, parents and the media a false story about why St. Louis Park High School was closed for the day Monday.

While school officials put out the word that the school was being shut down for the day due to a water main break, Superintendent Debra Bowers said later Monday the real reason was because of rumors that a student or students intended to commit violence.

They said last week's school killings in Colorado and Wisconsin played a part in their decision.

Bowers and Principal Robert Laney said a student notified administrators around 8 p.m. Sunday about a rumor of violent intentions against the school.

"They had heard rumors that there were potentially a student, or a number of students, that were going to come to the school intending violence, potentially, on students," Laney said.

The school's police liaison officer was called in. Seven students were interviewed and officials concluded some words had been misinterpreted.

"We were pretty comfortable about 10:30 that there wasn't a foundation to this," Laney said.

But a half hour later, police informed Laney about a call from a different student making similar allegations. At 11:30 p.m. they decided to close the school.

"I think you have to take every rumor and you have to investigate it because the potential is always there, unfortunately, in this day and age," the principal said. "Students often take actions where they don't think first. And with this type of a situation it can be deadly."

The superintendent said she took responsibility for the decision to put out the false report about their reasons. She said the investigation was continuing, she wanted to protect privacy, and her staff needed time to come up with a plan.

"In my mind I would have done that again because it gave us time to take care of those three things I mentioned," she said.

Bowers apologized "for any confusion" but said their concerns were valid.

The superintendent also said she had a meeting planned with staff Tuesday on beefing up security at the school.

One parent supported the decision to close the school for the day.

"I don't think that's bad, it's probably prudent," parent Tom Raether said.