Multiple Northeast Ohio school districts were closed on Tuesday due to safety concerns following a series of threats, disrupting education for students across the region.
Cleveland Arts and Social Sciences Academy (CASSA)
In Cleveland, the Cleveland Arts and Social Sciences Academy (CASSA) canceled classes on Tuesday. The decision to close was made for the “safety and security of staff and scholars,” according to a statement posted on the school’s social media. While specific details about the nature of the threat were not provided, school officials confirmed that the closure was a precautionary measure.
The school, located on Shaker Boulevard, serves over 400 elementary and middle school students. The administration emphasized that the safety of students and staff was their top priority, and they would continue to monitor the situation closely.
Lorain City School District
In Lorain, both Lorain High School and the district’s administrative central office were shut down after police were alerted to a potential threat. Around 4 a.m. on Tuesday, the FBI informed local authorities about a social media post that threatened the school. Lorain police immediately contacted school officials and launched an investigation.
By 7 a.m., detectives had obtained a confession from a 12-year-old girl who admitted to making the threatening post as a joke. Police confirmed that the girl had no means to carry out the threat, but she was issued a summons to appear in juvenile court for inducing panic.
Lorain City School District officials worked with law enforcement to ensure that the threat was addressed swiftly. Both the high school and the administrative offices remained closed for the day.
Clearview Local Schools
Clearview High School and Durling Middle School in Lorain County were also closed on Tuesday due to a bomb threat made against the high school. The threat, posted on social media Monday evening, was not discovered until Tuesday morning.
Superintendent Dr. Jerome Davis explained that law enforcement, including bomb-sniffing dogs from the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, were brought in to search both school buildings, which share the same campus. Fortunately, no explosives or suspicious items were found during the search.
Dr. Davis stressed the importance of taking every threat seriously. “The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority,” he said, adding that thanks to the prompt response from law enforcement and school officials, the situation was handled without incident.
Both Clearview High School and Durling Middle School are set to reopen on Wednesday.
State Response to Threats
Paul Craft, superintendent of public instruction for the State Board of Education, issued a strong statement condemning the threats made against schools in Ohio. Craft emphasized that any individuals involved in such threats would face serious legal consequences. He also noted that students responsible for making these threats would not only be subject to criminal charges but could also face long-term expulsions and the loss of extracurricular privileges.
The series of threats in Northeast Ohio underscores the disruptive and dangerous nature of these incidents, which continue to pose significant challenges for schools and law enforcement alike.