The local School District has confirmed central Peninsula schools were on a brief form of watch this afternoon. Pegge Erkeneff sent the following message to parents close to 2pm today…
Erkeneff: “this afternoon schools were in a stay put mode for less than an hour after two schools received an automated telephone threat similar to the calls which have recently been made around the state. The schools in question were K-Beach El and Skyview Middle. Law enforcement responded immediately and Troopers recommended all schools be put into a stay put mode. That included Nikiski, Soldotna, Kenai, Sterling, and Tustamena. After they determined the call was not a credible threat, they were taken out of stay put mode. All schools will release on a normal schedule today. All after school activities are on a normal schedule. You will see an increased law enforcement presence at our schools. For clarity, a stay put mode means that all exterior doors are locked, students are brought into the building and classroom instruction continues as normal. We want you to know that we take the safety of our students and our staff very seriously. Law enforcement responded immediately and are doing a check at all of our schools. We ask you to contact your principal if you have any questions.”
The threats were received just after 1pm.
Staci Feger-Pellessier with the FBI said they’ve been investigating the calls since Troopers became aware of a statewide pattern.
Feger-Pellessier: “Some of them definitely have the same characteristics that’s been reported, that they’re automated or computer-generated in some form.”
We asked Feger-Pellessier if the repetition of the calls indicate they are likely a hoax, or if there’s some future threat pending. She said they’re treating each threat as though it’s the first…
Feger-Pellessier: “There may be ten threats, but that doesn’t mean on the 11th one you don’t take that one seriously. Whatever the school district, whatever their policy is and their protocol for whenever they get a threat like this, we’re asking them to please stick with that protocol.”
The FBI welcomes any information or tips from the public…
Feger-Pellessier: “If they hear anything, if they hear of rumblings of who may be making these threats, 100% please give us a call.”
You can call the FBI at 907-276-4441.