NEW HAVEN -- Access to an elementary school in the Mexico Central School District was restricted for about an hour Wednesday morning, after the superintendent tells CNY Central a "false rumor" circulated about a threat against a student.
District Superintendent Dr. Bob Pritchard says Wednesday morning a teacher at New Haven Elementary School received a phone call from a parent who was concerned about a possible threat against a child by an unspecified family member. The rumor said someone might have been coming to the school to confront the child.
Pritchard says the teacher notified Principal Daniel Packard, who in turn called the superintendent's office. Pritchard says he notified 911 of the potential threat, and Oswego County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the school to close off access to the public.
The school was locked down at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday. By 12:09 p.m., it returned to normal.
Pritchard says parents were notified of the restricted access via a telephone messaging system. He says afternoon pre-kindergarten class was cancelled as a precaution, but otherwise classes proceeded normally, and the school was given the "all clear" early Wednesday afternoon. Parents received a second phone call, once everything was straightened out.
Police say the rumor was a false report, and a result of a domestic dispute between family members.
The Oswego County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident. Sheriff Reull Todd says his department takes false reports very seriously. Right now, investigators are following up on a few leads. It's possible the person who made the threat could face charges.
