School of the Osage to have online classes until Tuesday after threats

LAKE OZARK, Mo. (KMIZ)

School of the Osage will not have in-person classes until Tuesday after two threats were made to the district within 24 hours. 

This comes after the district held classes virtually Thursday because of those threats.

According to the director of communications for the School of the Osage district, classes are being held virtually in order to give both law enforcement and staff the time to prepare for a safe return.

Osage Beach Police Department Lt. Mike O'Day said the department does not have any leads on the person or people behind the threats.

The department is working with other area law enforcement agencies to get to the bottom of it.

O'Day says one of those threats was deemed fake. Around 9 a.m. Wednesday, the Osage Beach Police Department learned of a threat that was made to the schools in the district. 

After investigating, officers discovered that the threat was from years ago and was sent to schools nationally. 

Around 8 p.m. Wednesday, though, another threat was made to the district, which specifically named the district as the target, prompting the district to switch to remote classes Thursday.

O'Day says the threat circulated around the social media application Snapchat. And the person, or people behind the threat allegedly said they planned to "shoot up the school."

O'Day also said that if anyone has any information about either threat, to say something.

"If you have information on either of these posts, who re-circulated the one yesterday or even who started the one that came last night, please contact our office...contact our office, speak with the detectives. All of our detectives are working it so there's a lot of manpower on it," O'Day said.

Christina Lynn is the mom of two students who attend schools in the district. Lynn said she thinks the school district and law enforcement are handling the situation well, given the circumstances. Lynn said her only concern at this point is for the students who are seniors at the high school in the area.

The last day of school for seniors is May 12, and this week was also spirit week for seniors. Due to school being held virtually online, Lynn's daughter will no longer be able to participate in the festivities.

On Wednesday, the day the threats were posted to social media, Lynn said the district gave parents the opportunity to pick up their students from school early. Lynn said that she picked her younger child up from Upper Elementary School, and her daughter drove herself home early.

"She didn't wanna take a chance you know? She was feeling kinda like well it's better to stay home... I don't wanna you know, risk anything if there's somebody sending out you know threats like that," Lynn said.

Lynn also noted that police officers and staff that were present at the schools during the time many parents picked their children up early, were especially calm, despite the chaotic nature of the day. She said she is extremely grateful for their handling of things, and the fact that the school district ultimately prioritized the safety of its students.

"Everybody was really calm though and respectful, you know? Just there to ask questions and find out if anybody needs them to help with anything," Lynn said.

O'Day said the Osage beach police department, along with the Miller County Sheriff's Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol will continue to investigate the incident.