Schools

Spray-Painted Messages At Hartland High School Discussed on Twitter, Facebook

"‎24 will die on the 24th. 24 days until the seniors graduate," is one of the potential threats being heard around Hartland this morning.

Rumors that the number 24 spray painted around the campus signify a death threat have forced administrators to . 

"‎24 will die on the 24th. 24 days until the seniors graduate. This is what I heard," Kelly Bowren Burton ‎wrote on the Hartland Patch Facebook page this morning regarding the potential threat to Hartland students.

"My son was one of many who received a death threat text," Becky Shires Cwiek wrote on the Hartland Patch Facebook page. "It said May 24th Your First. They all said the same thing according to the police officer who called him last night. I think they will catch this person. We have four weeks until he graduates and just don't need this."

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Hartland Schools sent out an automated message to parents at 5 a.m. this morning which said:

ATTENTION: School is CANCELLED for Tuesday, April 24, 2012 for Hartland High School ONLY. This includes any Community Education Activities that take place at the High School and the Pool.

Find out what's happening in Hartlandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In what may be an unrelated incident, Hartland schools posted a reward on their Facebook page regarding school vandalism on Friday which said:

"Hartland Schools is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the apprehension of the individuals responsible for the repeated vandalism that has taken place at Hartland High School. Contact Principal Hughes or Asst. Principal Lashbrook."

On Friday morning, pictures were taken by Hartland Patch of some of the spray painted messages and also the number 24 burned into the grass outside the front entrance of the school.

Principal Chuck Hughes, talking to Hartland Patch for a different interview, was guessing that the vandalism was a senior prank. May 24 is the last day for seniors.

Twitter feeds from Hartland students about the potential school shooting starting popping up Monday night as talk about the potential threats were discussed.

"Apparently there's gunna be a shooting as hartland high," tweeted Hartland High School senior Kaileigh Orr. "There was the number 24 spray painted on the school and there's rumors."

Kaitlan Welton tweeted, "Nobody at Hartland High better go to school tomorrow."

Parents of the surrounding schools are also concerned for the safety of their younger students as well.

"What about the surrounding schools?" questioned Hartland parent Robbie S. McDonnell on the Hartland Patch Facebook page this morning. "I don't want my young child on lock-down if there might be a crazy gunman or something. How credible is this threat?"

"I am just thankful they are taking this serious," Therese Cranick wrote on the Hartland Patch Facebook page. "My daughter goes there & it was all over FB & Twitter last night. All I heard was guns & a shooting on the 24th to represent the 24 spray-painted on the schools entrance. SCARY!!!"

Hartland High School was the only school closed the morning. There's been no mention of the other school in the district.

and are in the same complex as the high school.

According to other media outlets, superintendent Janet Sifferman will be meeting with the Livingston County's Sheriff's office later today to discuss the threats. Hartland Patch has a call into both sources for more information.


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