RICHWOOD, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Nicholas County Superintendent Terrence Beam has released an update after both Richwood High School and Middle School were closed today.
On Sunday evening, Nicholas County Schools announced that both Richwood High School and Richwood Middle School would be closed Monday due to an ‘unconfirmed safety issue.’
On Monday morning, Superintendent Beam released the following statement saying that Richwood High School received a threat, but did not confirm the type of the threat made.
“Sunday afternoon around 2:00, I was contacted about a possible threat that could affect students and staff at Richwood Middle School and possibly Richwood High School. Without breaching confidentiality or compromising the legal process, I feel confident with sharing some information with the public. First of all, and most importantly, the threat has been addressed and is no longer a concern. The buildings were “swept” with a service dog and no threat was found. Secondly, it was NOT a firearms threat. I do not want to state exactly what the threat was because, again, we are going through the legal process with the individual involved.
I understand the public’s desire for information, but we have protocol to follow.
School will be in session tomorrow on a regular schedule. I have instructed the principals of the two schools to meet with their student bodies and remind them of how serious threats will be taken by my office. We do not live in the same world we lived in twenty years ago. ALL threats must be taken seriously, and we will continue to do so. Students that make threats, real or not, will have to answer for their actions.
Terrence Beam, Superintendent”
No other information has been released at this time.