NORTH WOODS SCHOOL— Classes were held here on Wednesday after law enforcement and school officials determined that threatening messages on Snapchat from a 13-year-old student at the school were not credible.

“We feel strongly that our school continues to be a safe place,” said ISD 2142 Superintendent Reggie Engebritson on Wednesday morning. “We are meeting with students today and answering questions from parents.  Some parents did choose to keep their children home due to inaccurate information that was posted.”

Social media posts had indicated that the student had made threats, including posting a photo of what appeared to be an assault rifle with the accompanying comment, “Ready for my school dudes.”

The student had first posted comments that school officials described as “inappropriate” on Tuesday, and school officials indicate that they responded through law enforcement, who removed the student from class and the school. But the student posted additional comments from home later in the day and school officials again contacted the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office for assistance. Sheriff’s deputies visited the student’s home and talked to the student and his parents. “After the investigation was concluded, law enforcement deemed the information posted by the student, while inappropriate, did not pose any specific or imminent threats to anyone or the school,” according to a press statement issued by the sheriff’s office on Wednesday. “The matter, due to the nature of the content posted by the student, will be referred to the St. Louis County Juvenile Attorney’s Office for review for any potential charges,” added the statement.

School officials insist they are taking the incident seriously and sent out an informational alert to parents of students at the school on Wednesday morning in an effort to keep the public apprised of the incident. “What was posted outside the school day could have been perceived as a threat,” acknowledged Engebritson, “but once it was investigated it was determined that the student was talking about social media and not about causing harm to others.” Engebritson said school officials acted according to district policies and worked to assess any possible threats to students and staff. “If we thought that there was a risk in having school today, I would have closed it,” she said.

While the student’s name was used in some social media posts, the Timberjay is not identifying the student because he is a minor.