Ephrata schools receive threat

EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District took precautions Monday, including instating a modified lockdown, after being notified of an unspecified threat.

Superintendent Jerry Simon explained the situation in a letter sent home to parents the same day.

The district was notified by Ephrata police of a written threat found in Moses Lake, according to Simon. The threat was directed toward an unidentified school in Ephrata.

“Neither the police department nor the school district knows if the threat was credible,” Simon stated. “However, we took the threat seriously with precautions for Monday.”

Ephrata Police Chief Joe Varick said the report of a threat originated from Moses Lake Police Department.

“They took a report of graffiti on a bathroom wall in one of their (convenience stores),” Varick said.

On the bathroom wall, a message was written specifying an Ephrata school would be “raided and shot down” on Monday, Varick said.

Varick said credibility could not be established, so precautionary measures were taken.

Monday occurred without incident at any school.

Among several measures taken, the Ephrata School District notified public schools of the situation.

Principals met with staff in each school at 7:45 a.m. to explain the situation. Entrances were monitored for suspicious or unusual activity by principals and staff, who were “very visible,” according to Simon.

As students arrived at school, they were directed into the buildings.

“As a precaution, teachers did not collaborate (Monday),” Simon added. “Instead, we started classes earlier than normal for a late-start Monday. We wanted our kids in the buildings rather than on playgrounds or outside on school grounds.”

Once students were inside, buildings conducted a “modified” level 1 lockdown. The lockdown consisted of modified entrances and locked doors.

Varick said some parents did remove their children from school.