Schools in Minnesota’s fourth-largest district were closed on Tuesday as law enforcement officials investigated threats later determined to be from out of state.
An alert from District 196, which includes public schools in Rosemount, Apple Valley, and Eagan, said schools were closed Tuesday “out of an abundance of caution.”
“Multiple schools received threats, and law enforcement is actively investigating. We will provide updates as more information becomes available,” the district’s alert stated, adding, “Employees do not report to work.”
A district spokesperson confirmed to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that multiple schools received a threatening voicemail. Those threats were first discovered at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to District 196. Police were then contacted, and the decision to cancel school — not a shift to e-learning — was made at around 5:45 a.m.
Eagan police confirmed the department worked with neighboring agencies to investigate and determined that the threats originated from out of state.
“Based on the information gathered, we believe the threats directed at our schools are not credible and do not pose a danger to our community,” Eagan police said in a statement, adding they are confident it is safe for students and staff to return to school.
Anne Clubb, a teacher and grandparent of a student at Eastview High School, told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, “I pray it turns out to be nothing… But it’s just really sad that we have to take these seriously.”
Pam Revels, President of the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), highlighted the challenges federal investigators face in responding to voicemail threats.
“It could even go back to the voicemail that you received it on, is it through an IP address? Is there a way to investigate that? What did it sound like? Did it sound like a Robocall? Or did it sound like a squatting call?” said Revels.
The Eagan Police Department noted that the FBI will take over as the lead investigative agency.
The closure comes a day after schools in the district were closed due to the weekend snowstorm. More than two dozen schools are opening late Tuesday because of the weather.
District 196 has four early childhood schools, 20 elementary schools, six middle schools, and five high schools, as well as other additional learning programs.
