Several Oakland County Schools Close Thursday For Safety Concerns

OAKLAND COUNTY - Several school districts across metro Detroit closed Thursday after threats of violence began circulating on social media.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said during a Thursday news conference that a false threat of terrorism is a 20-year felony.

"We will charge it and we will hold people accountable," McDonald said.

More than two dozen schools have closed, including:

• Holly Area Schools
• Troy School District
• Rochester Community Schools
• Bloomfield Hills School District
• Warren Consolidated Schools
• Clarkston Community Schools
• Lake Orion Community Schools
• Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
• Clawson Public Schools
• Hazel Park Schools
• Avondale School District
• West Bloomfield School District
• Lamphere and Madison District Public Schools in Madison Heights
• Novi Community School District

The closing of the schools comes after four students were killed and seven other people were injured at Oxford High School on Tuesday.

Superintendent Pat Watson of Bloomfield Hills Schools posted a note on the school's website that said, "The safety and security of our students is our top priority. We are in constant contact with Bloomfield Township Police who take every report or rumor seriously. We will follow up with you tomorrow with any updated information. Please take care of yourselves and one another."

Several other school districts wrote similar notes.

"Out of an abundance of caution, Rochester Community Schools will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021," Rochester Community Schools website said. "There will be no school for all in-person and RCS Virtual Campus students in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through grade 12, Pre-K, Early On, Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE), and the Adult Transition Program and Services (ATPS). All evening activities and enrichment programs will also be canceled. The RCS Caring Steps Children’s Center will remain open. Families will receive an email message with additional information."

Clarkston Community Schools and Holly Area Schools are closed Thursday and Friday.

"There have been dozens of indirect threats reported to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) throughout the county this evening," the Clarkston schools website said. "Our district has worked closely with the OCSO to investigate each threat with a possible connection to CCS. At this time, none of the threats investigated have been deemed credible. However, the volume of indirect threats in the county makes it impossible for law enforcement to investigate each threat thoroughly. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority, and at this time, we cannot take the risk. We will continue to work with the OCSO and keep you informed."

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates