While schools in one mid-Michigan district were closed for two days this week because of an online threat, a Livingston County district decided to hold classes today despite an unspecified rumor that they say turned out to not be credible.

A threat through the Stockbridge Community Schools' technology department involved Stockbridge junior/senior high school. Superintendent Karl Heidrich says the message implying a threat of gun violence was reported Tuesday to police. The district's schools were closed Wednesday and Thursday. Stockbridge Police Chief Johnnie Torres says that an investigation led them to one student. Eventually, he says, another student - a 14-year-old boy - confessed Thursday. The school district says both students have been suspended and are banned from school property. Torres says investigators don't think the boy had access to weapons, but the Ingham County prosecutor's office is handling the case and charges were expected. Classes resumed today in Stockbridge.

Classes are also taking place in the Hartland Consolidated School District today after “rumors and inappropriate comments of a threatening nature” were brought to the attention of administrators. According to a message sent out to Hartland parents by Superintendent Chuck Hughes, the district worked closely with the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office to follow-up on their concerns, but that they were able to determine that there were “no threats of a credible nature.”

Hughes tells WHMI that a few students made what he would call “very thoughtless comments to others in regard to school violence.” He says they acted on the concerns in the morning, but that as others heard the comments, things were said and posted on social media. That “rumor mill” caused him to feel it necessary to assure Hartland parents, students, and staff that their schools were safe and that their safety was always their top priority.

Despite that, many parents have been posting to social media that they will be keeping their kids home today out of an abundance of caution. (JK)