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Originally published Sept. 10, 2024
MARTINS FERRY, Ohio – Martins Ferry City Schools Superintendent Jim Fogle told River News Network that he lifted the soft lockdown on campus at the end of the school day Tuesday.
Martins Ferry City Schools was one of several Ohio Valley schools targeted by alleged threats this week. On Tuesday night, Buckeye Local School District officials announced on Facebook that school would be closed Wednesday, September 11 due to additional threats. St. Clairsville-Richland City School District was under a soft lockdown Tuesday, and Buckeye Local School District had a soft lockdown Monday.
Students remain on campus with doors locked and no visitors permitted during a soft lockdown. Martins Ferry school board members emphasized that school doors are always locked when school is in session.
Fogle says the string of local social media threats could be linked.
Fogle explained how his district learned about the threat and the actions they took to ensure the safety of their students.
The Martins Ferry Police Department called the Martins Ferry School Resource Officer Tuesday morning to alert him to an alleged social media threat against the school.
The Martins Ferry Police dispatcher said there was a threat on social media and we were added to the list.
Jim Fogle, Superintendent, Martins Ferry City Schools
The list possibly referred to all the schools receiving threats on social media this week.
Fogle placed the school campus under a soft lockdown “out of an abundance of caution.” Classes remained in session but visitors were not permitted to enter the buildings. School staff escorted students to meet parents as requested.
Fogle said Martins Ferry police interviewed a person concerning the social media post and that person provided police with names of other persons possibly involved.
The superintendent said Martins Ferry Police Chief Jerry Murphy did not find credible evidence of a threat. Police did not have a copy of the post, he said.
Fogle thanked the Martins Ferry Police Department for their fast response and added that additional officers were on campus Tuesday in response to the incident.
Classes were scheduled to resume with no restrictions Wednesday.