LPOSD says school threat unfounded

SANDPOINT — After investigating reports of a threat at Lake Pend Oreille High School Tuesday, school officials concluded the incident was unfounded.

Reports emerged on social media Wednesday by parents and others concerned about the alleged threat that an LPOHS student had been bullied to the point of threatening to "take it into his own hands and shoot everyone in sight."

In a statement Wednesday, LPOHS principal Geoff Penrose said the reality is some of the students were having a general discussion about school shootings and their fears about such things. The conversation was overheard and misconstrued as a threat.

"This is a regrettable but understandable concern for students in our modern America," Penrose said in the statement. "Some other students overheard bits of this conversation, combined it with some of their own fears and assumptions, and perceived a threat."

The students reported their concerns and school officials, along with a probation officer and the school resource officer, who is an officer with the Sandpoint Police Department, spoke with the "main student in question," according to the statement. School officials also interviewed the other students involved in the conversation.

"No threat to LPOHS was discovered," Penrose said in the statement.

Social media reports also said the student was escorted off school property by the SRO, but according to the statement, that is "completely made up." It says one of the students involved was upset by the interview process, so his parent chose to check him out for the day.

"Our highest responsibility is to keep your kids safe while they're in our care, so I'm always happy to address your concerns" Penrose said in the statement, which was sent out to all LPOHS parents in a phone recording Wednesday. "Please rest assured that they are safe here at LPOHS."