A Mason High School student said Wednesday at the bus stop that the district called him a “significant verbal threat.”
The Mason City School said the male student was arrested in high school Thursday morning, adding that the threat was a threat to some Mason Early Childhood Center students.
The district said in a previous statement on the day of the incident that the student “allegedly they were selected and in response to pose a verbal threat to shoot the school.”
According to previous statements, some students reported threats to administrators, while others reported what the students said using phone or text prompt lines.
Once aware of the incident, the district began to investigate, reviewing videos of bus cameras and working closely with law enforcement, which ultimately led to the arrest of students.
“We know that, like the events shared this week, events can be disturbing and we want to assure you that the safety and well-being of students remain our top priority,” the statement said on Thursday. “Our team is taking other steps to enhance the culture of safety, inclusion and respect for all grades.”
Mason City School spokesman Tracey Carson told the Inquirer that while the district cannot disclose specific student disciplines, students who threaten this nature often face suspensions and are advised to be fired.
The district added that it is working directly with affected families and is increasing support for participating students. This includes an increase in supervision of all buses in the area, as well as the provision of “other monitoring” on routes involved in Wednesday’s incident.
All schools in the area are offering courses to help students “develop and be honest, recognize and report harmful behaviors and stand up for themselves and others in a positive, constructive way,” the statement said. If students wish to have a conversation with members of the Prevention and Health Team, please contact TJ Glassmeyer, Director of Prevention and Health at glassmeyert@masonohioschools.com.
To report threats, the district shares three ways the community can access its prompt lines:
“Even if you’re joking or out of frustration, threats (big or small) can lead to serious school and legal consequences,” the district said on Wednesday. “Messages sent online, including group chats, gaming platforms and social media, are never truly private and can be misunderstood.”
Inquirer reporter David Ferrara contributed to the story.
This article originally appeared in Cincinnati Inquirer: Mason City School: Students Arrested After Shooting Threat
