HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — Harrisonburg High School and Rocktown High School will be closed today, September 16.

According to the Harrisonburg City Public Schools website, the Harrisonburg Police Department is investigating a threat. The threat was specific against Harrisonburg High School but involves students at both high schools. HCPS says the threats mentioned in a prior communication are not credible, and middle and elementary schools will be operating on a normal schedule today.

UPDATE: Superintendent Dr. Michael Richards has sent a letter to families in regards to the threat that closed schools. The full letter can be viewed below.

“HCPS Families:
Just a few minutes ago I sent an email to our staff to give them more information and context for the high school closures today. I want to provide our families with that message as well to hopefully calm some nerves.
After the school shooting in Georgia, schools across the country have received a rash of threats. We are no different. So far the threats against us have been fairly easily determined to be not credible. The current one is also most likely not credible, but we don’t take chances. We consider a threat credible until it is proven not to be. We work with law enforcement and only declare a threat is not credible when they agree that it is.
This particular threat was made on SnapChat, which is especially difficult for law enforcement to work with and so it has taken some time to communicate with SnapChat and narrow down the investigation to specific individuals. The threat specifically identified HHS, and the law enforcement investigation has led to several students that HPD needs to speak with at both high schools. Until law enforcement has wrapped up its investigation, I decided to close the schools.
Again, I emphasize that we take threats seriously, even when they are likely to be not credible. If there is a threat to your child’s school, appropriate action will be taken.
Later today you will receive a longer letter from me that speaks more to these threats and the way we need to work together as a community as we navigate them.
Please know the safety of our students and staff is my number one priority.
Sincerely,
Michael G. Richards, Ed.D.
Superintendent”