CCSD increases security after social media post
FARMINGTON — Students in Newcomb and Naschitti will see an increased security presence at their schools Tuesday after a threat was made against Newcomb High School on social media this weekend.
The Central Consolidated School District has implemented extra security measures at Newcomb Elementary, Middle and High schools, along with Naschitti Elementary School, after a juvenile male suspect posted a threat Saturday on his personal Facebook page about Newcomb High, according to district spokesman James Preminger.
“We want to ensure the safety of our students and our schools,” Preminger said. “These are safe places, we’ll keep (extra) security in place as long as we need.”
A message posted to the CCSD district website by Interim Superintendent Colleen Bowman said the threat was made at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Officials with the FBI, along with the Farmington Police Department and Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, are investigating the alleged threat, FBI spokesman Frank Fisher confirmed in an email on Monday.
Fisher said the student who made the threat has been identified and located. Fisher said that because the investigation is ongoing, he could not provide more details.
As a precaution, the district placed the four Newcomb and Naschitti schools into a state of “shelter in place” on Monday, and they will remain in that state when students return to school Tuesday.
Students had the day off from school on Monday for staff training.
“Classroom instruction will continue but this is just a precautionary measure,” Preminger said.
Additional security personnel have also been assigned to the school sites.
The additional security staff and “shelter in place” lockdown will be in effect until law enforcement determines the situation is sufficiently addressed, Bowman said in the message on the district’s website.
After-school activities for the four schools were canceled on Monday and are canceled Tuesday.
Joshua Kellogg covers education for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4627.