Parkersburg South principal says coverage of rumors created more

Officials found no credible threats at high school

PARKERSBURG -- Officials say reports of false threats at other schools led to rumors of possible violence at Parkersburg South High School.

South Principal Betsy Patterson sent a recorded call to parents Friday morning saying while there was no evidence of any issues, officials were still taking the rumors seriously.

"We have fielded several rumors today about a recording of a shooting which has been investigated, and we will continue to investigate this, however at this time it is not a credible threat," she said in the message. "We will continue to monitor it closely and keep everyone apprised of the situation."

Earlier this week, rumors of possible violence circulated at Ravenswood High School and St. Marys High School. In both cases officials said the rumors were investigated and no evidence of a credible threat was found. Parents took to social media to complain about the response and to say they would not send their children to school Thursday and Friday.

In Friday's message, Patterson pointed to reports of those issues as the catalyst for Friday's investigation at South.

"Unfortunately there were things in the paper today reporting on area schools at Ravenswood and St. Marys and at times like that sometimes it can create new rumors to spawn, but we take every threat serious and will continue to look into this matter," she said.

Superintendent Will Hosaflook said he was sent a message Friday morning by Patterson who said the rumors stemming from the articles had been checked by Prevention Resource Officers and found false.

In a text, Hosaflook said there seemed to be "confusion with what was in the paper" concerning rumors at Ravenswood and St. Marys high schools.

"There has been no threat, to my knowledge, in the Wood County system," he said. "However, we will continue to monitor the situation and take extra precautions to ensure the safety of our students and schools."

Don Brown, head of security for Wood County Schools, said there was no evidence or indication of any threat against the school or its students.

"I've been working on this all day long, and nobody has provided me anything to show any kind of clear threat to Wood County Schools, other than just people talking," he said.

But Brown emphasized any rumors of violence or action against students is thoroughly investigated.

"We take everything seriously," he said. "We take extra steps, even when we don't have anything at that time, to make sure everything is safe."

Brown said South never went into a lockdown Friday, as was rumored online, and the school administration followed proper protocol in handling the situation.

"South High School did a wonderful job and made parents aware as they should. They talked to the students," he said.

Patterson declined to comment Friday.

Michael Erb can be reached at merb@newsandsentinel.com.