Three days after a shooting at their homecoming football game, Richfield school administrators have called off school on Monday for grades 6-12 following reports of online threats against the district's secondary schools.
The schools include Richfield Middle School, Richfield High School, the South Education Center and the Richfield College Experience Program.
Administrators cite the timing of Friday's shooting at a football game as a reason for the extra precautions being taken.
The nature of the threats has not been disclosed.
Richfield elementary schools remain open and the district says Richfield Police and other law enforcement are investigating
Here is the letter posted on the district's website:
Dear RPS Students, Families and Staff,
Early this morning we received online threats against our secondary schools. While we have been partnering with police to investigate the credibility of the threats, due to the timing and the recent events outside our homecoming game, we have made the decision to close our secondary schools today. This includes Richfield Middle School, Richfield High School, the South Education Center and the Richfield College Experience Program.
All elementary schools will remain open as they were not the target of the threats. Elementary schools, including the Central Education Center, will have additional staff on site from the District Office, as well as patrols throughout the day from the Richfield Police Department. If families choose to keep their elementary students home for the day, it will be an excused absence if they follow their school’s absence reporting procedures.
We will continue working throughout the day with the Richfield Police Department and other law enforcement to investigate the threats. Staff at our secondary schools and the district office should report to their buildings by 10 a.m. Look for an email from your building administration with additional details.
We are aware that this is an unsettling message to receive. We are grateful to the Richfield community for your support and to the individuals who reported the threats to us. While we had hoped to see students today to offer support, connection and learning, we are making this decision with student and staff safety in mind. Support staff will be available via phone or Google Meets to support students and families.
Sincerely,
Superintendent Steven Unowsky
On Friday night, shots rang out during Richfield's homecoming football game, halting the contest and prompting the cancellation of all weekend events at the school.
Police have arrested two teenagers in connection with the shooting.
One of the suspects is 15 years old, and is a former student at Richfield.
He is believed to have instigated the incident and was arrested early Saturday in Edina.
The other is a 16-year-old who is still registered as a student at Richfield, and is believed to have fired the shots.
He was arrested late Sunday night in Richfield.
Both males remain in the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center.
Formal charges are expected early this week.
Two people were wounded and both are expected to recover.