Threat against Maine schools, including RSU 21, was a hoax, state police say

KENNEBUNK, Maine — Schools throughout RSU 21 went into hold-in-place mode during a threat against the district on Thursday, Dec. 14, according to Superintendent Terri Cooper.

In the second of two message to staff and families, Cooper noted that law enforcement had reported that many schools throughout the state had received such a threat.

“Though police did not believe the threat to be credible, we acted out of abundance of caution to ensure the safety of everyone in our schools,” Cooper wrote.

In her initial message on Thursday morning, Cooper informed families that local schools were in hold-in-place mode, as advised by police, and asked that no go to any of the schools or call them while the procedure was in place.

On Thursday morning, the Maine Department of Public Safety announced the state’s Information Analysis Center was aware of “multiple threats directed toward schools in Maine.” The threats, sent by email throughout the state and the nation were “deemed to be hoaxes,” according to te Maine State Police’s press release.

Approximately 60 schools in Maine were affected, according to Shannon Moss, the spokesperson for the state’s public safety department. The threat referred to explosives, Moss added.

Moss said the state will not release the names of the affected schools. On Friday morning, however, Sanford Superintendent of Schools Matt Nelson confirmed Sanford’s schools were not among them.

“We were aware of what was happening in Kennebunk and throughout the state and were ready to follow our safety procedures, of necessary,” Nelson said.

Superintendent James Daly, of the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District, also confirmed that none of the schools in his district had received a threat, either.

Please do not come to the school or attempt to call the office until a notification that the Hold in Place has been lifted. We will provide more updates pertaining to dismissal, pick-up and/or reunification as soon as possible.