NOTE: Ansonia schools posted the following info on Facebook and the district website about 9 p.m. Monday:
Ansonia Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, May 24, 2016. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carol Merlone said she made the decision in conjunction with law enforcement, who are continuing to investigate an “anonymous concerning statement” made earlier today on a social media site regarding Ansonia High School.
Although there was no direct threat made, Ansonia’s schools were placed on “lockout” at 1:15 p.m. until the end of the school day, and as a precaution, Ansonia police officers were present at each school before and during the regular dismissal time.
“Our top priority after being notified about this ‘concerning statement’ was communicating with law enforcement in order to keep all students and staff safe,” Dr. Merlone said. She has been and will remain in constant contact with police.
“A decision about when we will reopen schools will be made in conjunction with law enforcement, and we will be updating our website and Facebook page regularly,” Dr. Merlone added. Due to the sensitivity of the subject matter, she said further details cannot be provided at this time and thanked parents and community for remaining supportive and understanding.
Original post from Monday afternoon follows:
Ansonia police were at the city’s public schools during the afternoon dismissal Monday in response to an anonymous post of some kind.
The school district canceled all after-school activities.
About 2:15 p.m. police posted on Facebook that cops were assisting in “assisting in dismissing all Ansonia schools due to anonymous post on an after school app.”
Police said no specific threat was made against the schools, characterizing the response as “precautionary.”
“Students will be let out of school. No one is allowed into the schools,” the police statement said.
News of the police presence at the schools spread quickly, with parents peppering social media with questions. Many complained they didn’t receive messages from the school district about the incident until long afterward.
The embed below is from the Ansonia school district’s Facebook page:
In a prepared statement released about 3:45 p.m., Ansonia Police Lt. Andrew Cota said police were notified of the threat about 12:30 p.m.
Cota said an anonymous post “indicated “that there was (a) possible threat directed at Ansonia Schools.”
“There was no indication exactly what school may have been the subject of the posting,” Cota said.
The school district then restricted access to the schools, and cops were posted at each school to oversee students being let out of the buildings.
“All students were released without incident,” Cota said.
“At this time this case is under investigation and the identification of the suspect is unknown at this time,” Cota said. “Anyone with any information is asked to call the Ansonia Detective Division at 203 – 735-1885.”
Mayor David Cassetti sent a Code Red message to residents Monday afternoon mentioning the incident. Click the play button below to listen.
The following message was posted on the school district’s website Monday afternoon:
Ansonia Public Schools placed all four of its schools on “lockout” at 1:15 p.m. today after an “anonymous concerning statement” was made on a social media site regarding Ansonia High School, according to the Ansonia Police Department. There was no direct threat, the police have said; however, police were on scene at all four schools before and during dismissal today. The incident is under investigation.
All after school activities are cancelled today. Until further notice, all buildings will remain on “lockout.”
