Dear RSU No. 67 Families and Staff,
Today, Monday, September 30, 2024, a threatening message was found at Mattanawcook Jr. High School, the third such note found in the past week. Per the emergency protocol, local law enforcement was immediately notified. Local law enforcement, with support from the Maine State Police, conducted a thorough search with the Explosives Unit. They found no dangerous devices.
In keeping with district safety protocols, the school was evacuated to ensure the safety of students and staff. Students completed their day off-site and were either released to a parent/guardian or were transported home at their regularly scheduled time. Once law enforcement determined there was no credible threat at Mattanawcook Junior High School, the building was turned back over to RSU 67 Staff. Due to the timing of the incident, all after-school activities were canceled at MJHS.
MJHS administration, working with Lincoln Police Detective Jacobs, were quickly able to identify a student as a suspect, and that student ultimately confessed to writing the threatening message. We recognize how serious this and similar incidents are and how important it is to hold individuals accountable. RSU No. 67 will work closely with the Police Department to determine how best to hold accountable those responsible, to improve the response to critical incidents, and to determine the most effective way to deter such incidents in the future.
Again, we would like to thank the School Administration and responding agencies. We understand how disruptive this is to students, staff and families, and we will continue to work closely to assist in restoring a safe learning environment for everyone. We also understand these incidents may be alarming to students and staff. If you or someone you know needs to speak to someone about your concerns, please reach out to the school administration or the Lincoln Police Department for assistance.
Mark Leonard, Chief of Police, Lincoln, Maine
Paul Austin, RSU No. 67 Superintendent of Schools