Rutland High School in Macon is under "limited student movement," and has extra security today, after threats to the school were reportedly posted on social media.
According to school district spokeswoman Stephanie Hartley, the district is "actively investigating" threats against the school, allegedly posted on social media sites.
As a precaution, she said, movement by students is being restricted today inside Rutland High School. Students will move from class to class as normal, and will dismiss normally at the end of the school day. Hartley said there have not been any shootings at the school.
David Gowan, the District's Safety Director said Campus police and the Bibb County Sheriff's office are investigating the threats.
"We are having a modified school day here. Kids are moving from class to class but we're taking some other precautions," said Gowan.
Those precautions include 7 Bibb County Sheriff's Office cruisers and a canine unit surrounding the high school. The school notified students over the intercom that they would eat lunch in their classrooms. Gowan wouldn't describe the alleged threats or comment on who made them. "We will monitor the situation day by day and do what's necessary as a team to assist the school," said Gowan.
Even though Rutland wasn't locked down, some parents like Demetria Smith heard about the threats from their children and rushed to the school. "Just that someone got on Facebook and said they were going to bomb Rutland. My son texted me and said mom come get me. So I'm here," said Smith.
Smith added she might ultimately take her son out of Rutland and home school him since he feels unsafe. The line for parents to check their children out was pretty long on Friday morning, but Gwendolyn Howard said it would be well worth it.
"I just want them to be safe. So I feel like they'll be safer with me than they would be here in this environment," said Howard.
Gowan said parents were notified of the threats by automated phone calls around 9:30 am and told they could pick up their students. Gowen added the investigation is continuing but there are various student code of conduct and criminal charges that might apply in a situation like this.
