Update: Wiscasset Police Chief Larry Hesseltine said the potential threat to Wiscasset schools is over.

A male student at Wiscasset Middle High School confessed to making the still unspecified threat that resulted in Wiscasset schools being closed Thursday. He was not arrested, Hesseltine said.

WMHS Principal Charles Lomonte said school would resume tomorrow, Friday. He said Superintendent of Schools Terry Wood would be sending further information to parents, staff and the public. 

Superintendent Terry Wood said she was notified of the threat after school hours by administrators, so the students never came to school on Thursday. She said the threat was a very generalized statement that something was going to happen at school today, but no bomb, gun or other weapon was mentioned, and no specific students, teachers, or administrators were threatened. She said she had no idea what the motive might have been.

Statement to the public from Supt. Wood: “The Wiscasset School Department will reopen both schools on a normal academic schedule Friday, Oct. 25, 2019.  Wiscasset school officials along with the Wiscasset police have identified the individual responsible for the potential threat, and are taking appropriate actions according to Wiscasset school policies and Maine State Law, to ensure safety for all. Once again, the safety and welfare of all students and staff is our first priority. Thank you for your continued support and patience while this incident was being investigated.”

Original post: Wiscasset School Department has released this statement from Superintendent of Schools Terry Wood:

“The Wiscasset School Department will be closed today, Oct. 24, 2019 due to a potential written threat on a bathroom wall at WMHS (Wiscasset Middle High School). School officials and local law enforcement continue to investigate  the credibility of this possible threat. As a precautionary measure to assure all student and staff safety, a decision has been made to close the schools.

“The safety and welfare of all students and staff is our primary responsibility. We will continue to communicate necessary information regarding the school reopening as soon as possible.”