This message was posted Thursday morning.
ANSONIA — UPDATED STORY HERE
City schools are closed today due to an unspecified online threat, a school official said in a message Thursday morning.
“Due to unspecified threats posted to social media, in consultation with Ansonia Police Department, Ansonia Public Schools will be closed today. The Ansonia Police Department and Ansonia Public Schools are currently investigating and schools will be closed today out of an abundance of caution,” according to the message attributed to Reese Morales, the district’s Director of Equity & Communications.
Morales’ message was posted at 7:27 a.m. Sept. 19.
The Ansonia Police Department posted the following message to Facebook one minute later:
“The Ansonia Police Department is aware of and actively investigating an online threat against the Ansonia schools. There will be additional police presence around all the schools within Ansonia.”
Students on buses that were heading toward Ansonia High School are being brought back home. Any students who have arrived at school are also being sent home.
Police are at schools as a precaution, according to police scanner chatter.
This story will be updated if officials release information.
On Sept. 5, Ansonia police had an increased presence at city schools after a false rumor spread online about a threat.
Threats have marred the opening month of schools around the state.
Bridgeport Public Schools were operating on a two-hour delay Thursday morning due to a threat.
A juvenile was arrested Wednesday night, according to a Facebook post from Bridgeport police.
Ansonia Public Schools Superintendent Joseph DiBacco told The Valley Indy that he hopes arrests will be made soon in connection to the threat.
DiBacco told parents that the best way to stay informed is via the ParentSquare app and Facebook.
He said that other school districts in the area were not notified because the threat was specific to Ansonia. He added that he expects schools to reopen and operate normally tomorrow.
Derby Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Conway issued at 10:45 a.m. a statement to Derby families saying the district is aware of the threats made elsewhere:
“I’m calling today to acknowledge the recent threats that have been reported in neighboring communities, across the state, and nationwide. While none of these threats have directly impacted our district, we understand how concerning this news is for our family.
Please know that the safety and security of our kids and staff is always our top priority. We have taken proactive measures to secure all our school buildings, including having armed School Security Officers (SSOs) in every building. In addition, we have implemented additional security protocols in every classroom in response to information received from the most recent incident in Georgia. These measures are part of our ongoing commitment and training to keeping our students safe.
We will also be meeting with students in the coming days to discuss the situation across the state and educate them on the serious risks and consequences of making threats on social media, even if they may not be intended seriously.
As always, we are working closely with Derby Police Department and our security team to maintain a safe environment. Please continue to have open conversations with your children, and feel free to reach out with any concerns.
Thank you for your ongoing trust and partnership. Together, as a family we will continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of everyone.”
