Online threats prompt more security at OHS

Additional security measures are in place at Owatonna High School – and will be there “indefinitely” – after a report of sexual assault, followed by threats on social media.
Owatonna Police Chief Keith Hiller confirmed Monday that police responded on Nov. 11 to a reported sexual assault at OHS. The case has been referred to the Steele County Attorney’s Office for review of possible criminal charges.
The alleged assault occurred at the high school, Hiller said. No one has been arrested or taken into custody.
The assault allegation became more public after potential threats began circulating the weekend after Thanksgiving, said Owatonna Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Elstad.
According to several parents’ Facebook posts, the alleged suspect remained a student at OHS and  his friends are accused of making threats to others.
On Friday,  OHS Principal Kory Kath sent a letter to all students and parents. In it, Kath said, “We are aware of conversations taking place at the high school and on social media about an incident involving a small group of students… we can say that one of the students involved is no longer enrolled at Owatonna High School.”
Elstad confirmed Monday morning that the student “is no longer attending Owatonna High School; that’s where we’ll leave it for now.”
The new safety protocols are in place at the two entrances available to students, starting at 7:30 a.m. each day. Thy include bag checks upon every entry, all doors locked during the school day and additional supervision and law enforcement presence on and around the campus.
They were put into place, Elstad said, despite an investigation that found the social media threats “unsubstantiated.”
“We have to take all threats seriously, and we do. Working in conjunction with the Owatonna Police Department, we investigate them first to determine how credible the threats are,” he said. “None of them were substantiated. Even so, we wanted to add extra safety measures on behalf of our students and staff for their safety.”
Elstad said the online threats were shared “student to student. I appreciate the diligent students and parents that we have… because they reported it to the police department, so they can continue their investigation and keep digging into where the original threats came from, and then the police department can take its action.”
The added security means moving about 1,500 students through just two entrances.
“We had all hands on deck at the high school” Monday morning, Elstad said. “I thought the process went very well; the students were very cooperative and they went through pretty quick. By about 8:10, all the students were through and on their way to class.”
Some families chose to keep their students out of school, at least on Monday, according to messages sent to the Steele County Times.
“I haven’t seen the attendance numbers yet,” Elstad said, “but I would guess some families chose to keep their kids home, and that’s their prerogative to do so.”
The district is “providing necessary resources for students, whether they’re related or unrelated” to the sexual assault allegation, he said.
“We respond to all student concerns as they come forward.”