Update:
Central Kenai schools are on security watch and heightened awareness for the second day in a row.
Parents with students at the local schools received an automated recording from the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Thursday morning that yesterday’s precautionay procedures are still in place.
There is no new information available on law enforcement’s investigation into the alleged unidentified public safety concern, said school district spokesperson Pegge Erkeneff.
Parents were told keeping their students at home today would be counted as an excused absence, according to the recording.
Original story:
Central Kenai schools were put on a safety watch Wednesday morning.
The school district made the decision to heighten security procedures in Soldotna schools following a call by State Troopers about an alleged public safety concern targeting local schools, but no one school in particular, said school district spokesperson, Pegge Erkeneff.
The measures were later extended to Kenai schools, Erkeneff said. Sterling, Nikiski and Tustumena schools were not effected.
Erkeneff could not confirm what the threat was, because law enforcement is still investigating the incident.
Only the front doors to the schools were left unlocked, which is normal during school hours, and supervision was increased in all school activities including those that took place outdoors, Erkeneff said. All school activities went as scheduled included bus routes, and after school programs, she said
“Schools are operating on a normal basis,” Erkeneff said.
Reach Kelly Sullivan at kelly.sullivan@peninsulaclarion.com
