BROOKINGS – Brookings High School had a shelter-in-place order Thursday afternoon following a reported concern from a high school student.

According to Brookings School District Superintendent Klint Willert, a BHS student had heard “secondhand” that “there could be a violent act at school.” No further description of the threat was given.

As the district’s released statement on the incident describes, the student reported his or her concern at approximately 12:30 p.m., with school officials immediately contacting the Brookings Police Department to work with school and district staff to investigate the “rumored threat.”

Parents were sent messages alerting them to the situation.

“After a thorough and comprehensive review, the Brookings Police Department determined that there was no credible threat,” the statement said. Students were able to return to classes as normal at about 2 p.m. 

Willert said there is no investigation continuing.

This is not the same incident reported in the Wednesday and Thursday editions of The Brookings Register, which detailed a Feb. 17 Brookings police log entry regarding a student-made threat to a Brookings school.

Although Willert declined to comment further on the Feb. 17 incident (“I really can’t be at liberty to discuss individual students.”), he said it hasn’t been determined if that incident had any impact or link to Thursday’s rumored threat.

“At the end of the day, the important thing is that the concern that the student brought forward was heard, we responded to it and acknowledged that it certainly could, based on what the student shared, be a potential threat. And that’s why we responded accordingly the way that we did,” Willert said.

The school was put in shelter-in-place, which keeps those within the building inside during the duration of that status. This is different from lockdowns, which further keep people within the rooms in which they are.

The decision on whether a shelter-in-place order or a lockdown is called for is based on the nature of a threat.

“When we have a potential threat that isn’t a verified, credible threat, what we do is initiate a shelter-in-place to hold students within the building,” Willert said. “A lockdown is when we know we have an imminent danger and situation that requires just that: that the building is completely locked down and kids and staff are locked down in rooms to address a clear and present danger.”

This is in line with the school district’s safety policy and procedures, which were used in this case. He said the response from the police department and the school district was timely and appropriate.

“I just want to reassure readers and the members of the Brookings community that the Brookings School District and the Brookings Police Department have and will continue to work very collaboratively on our response to these situations,” Willert said. “We collectively take the job of providing a safe and secure and supportive learning environment for the Brookings School District very seriously.”

A school assembly was held at the end of the school day to address the day’s events. Students were thanked for their diligence and conduct through the shelter-in-place order, and the staff and police department were thanked for their response.

“I believe our students understand the seriousness of this matter and appreciated the fact that we had the opportunity to address them directly and provide assurances and reinforce the fact that we are committed to providing that type of safe and secure and supportive learning environment,” Willert said.

And after the assembly, school events happened as planned, with practices held after school and a junior parent night happening according to schedule.

Contact Eric Sandbulte at esandbulte@brookingsregister.com.