As parents gather to pick up their children after Plymouth-Canton Community Schools' high school complex closed for the day, Canton Police issued a statement calling this morning's incident the result of a credible threat.
"A note indicating possible retaliation was found on school grounds prior to the start of school today, according to a Canton Police statement released just after 10 a.m. Police said the note appeared to be from a student threatening retaliation. No other details were released.
Police said the high schools' students were in semi-lockdown and that they will err on the side caution as students are dismissed.
Parents were told they would not be allowed on the three-school campus, which holds , and high schools and about 6,200 students.
Parents are gathering now at Pioneer Middle School, where they were directed by district officials to get students who need rides home.
"Columbine images came to my mind. Kids with reckless ideas," said Marla Letter the mother of a Plymouth sophomore, after arriving at Pioneer Middle School. "It made me fear for my kid's safety."
Patti Elliott, whose daughter Alex is a Plymouth High freshman, said she was not worried. Her daughter had contacted her via text message about the incident. As of 11:30 a.m., police were still on the scene and the first bus had arrived at Pioneer Middle School.
"They will handle everything perfectly," Patti Elliott said in a phone interview. She said she instructed her daughter to remain calm and help others if they needed it. "She just wrote that she was put into a whole new room and told me she's making new friends."
Students who drive their own cars will be allowed to drive themselves homes, school officials said.
School officials are scheduling a press conference for later today.
