For the second time in two months, classes at Emmett Schools were cancelled Thursday due to perceived direct threats received by school personnel. The December 13 threats were part of a broader cyber attack that impacted nearly two dozen Idaho schools. The threats received on Thursday, Feb. 8 appear to have been more specifically directed at two Emmett schools — Emmett High and Emmett Middle School.

The timing of the received threats prompted school officials to cancel classes at all schools in the District on Thursday.

“This morning’s school closure was due to a threat made to two ESD buildings,” explained Emmett School superintendent Craig Woods. “The decision to close schools across the district was due to the timing of the threat and because buses were en route with secondary students.”

Buses were rerouted prior to many of them reaching schools. Local law enforcement then stepped in to conduct building searches and to secure each site.

According to Gem County Sheriff Donnie Wunder, “Emmett City/Gem County law enforcement are working together with Idaho State Police in response to threats issued to the Emmett School District. The investigation is ongoing.”

No indication has been made that the Feb. 8 threat has any direct correlation with those responsible for the wide-spread threats of Dec. 13. Such a link has not been ruled out either as the investigation continues.

Emmett Schools administrators met late Thursday to determine how they would make up days necessary for this cancellation and any additional cancelations of school.

Late Thursday afternoon the District released the following guidelines:

1. March 1st, April 5th and April 19th (all Fridays) early release will be cancelled for 6th grade through 12th grade students in the district. Elementary and the Patriot Center staff, will still have early release on those days and PLC time. These are all A days in our High School Calendar and help to make up for some of the time missed from our weather-related closures.

2. Any additional days canceled for any reason moving forward this year will result in the day being added to the end of the current school year and may result in our EHS graduation date being moved as well.