Soap Lake schools closed Tuesday

SOAP LAKE - Citing concerns over a student who allegedly made threats against Soap Lake schools, the Soap Lake School Board cancelled classes Tuesday.

District superintendent Dan McDonald called it "an abundance of caution," so district officials could implement what McDonald called "further safety measures." McDonald released a statement Tuesday afternoon.

"We had some safety concerns," Soap Lake Middle School/High School Principal Rick Winters said Tuesday morning. "We plan to open tomorrow morning." After school activities will be cancelled today.

The closure followed the arrest of a 16-year-old Soap Lake student on Thursday after he allegedly threatened students and staff, according to a story in the Friday Columbia Basin Herald. The threat was not directed at any specific student or staff member, the story said.

According to Grant County Juvenile Detention Center administrator Warren Swanson, the boy said he was going to "shoot up the school."

The boy left campus after making the threats and was found and arrested at Smokiam High School, the district's alternative school. The student was searched when arrested but didn't have any weapons, the Herald story said.

The boy was charged with felony harassment and detained at the juvenile detention center over the weekend, but was released Monday, Swanson said. "Soap Lake was not happy that he was released," he said.

School board members interrupted their Monday night meeting for an unscheduled executive session, and board chair Jerry Bessette announced the closure afterward.

McDonald said district officials asked for more security on campus and plan to increase police presence on campus during school hours. District officials will be working with local agencies to increase safety precautions, he said.