Bags Searched Friday At Beaverton Middle School After Threat

BEAVERTON, OR —Students in one class at Highland Park Middle School in Beaverton reportedly had their backpacks searched for weapons Friday after one student was overhead earlier in the week speaking about bringing a bomb or gun to school, KOIN reported.

Highland Park Principal Curtis Semana reportedly confirmed the threat during a Thursday meeting, but said the law limited the school to only searching students in that classroom.

"We can't require or force a search without reasonable suspicion of a specific individual or a small group of individuals.," said Semana, who said the investigation was ongoing.

In a letter sent home to parents/guardians, and obtained by KOIN, the Beaverton School District said students will be allowed to opt out of the search.

"If students do not give permission for a search, we will bring their backpacks to the office to be held through the end of the day, and their parents/guardians will be called," the letter said.

The district did not publicly identify the student who reportedly was overheard making the threat.

KOIN reported that a spokesperson for the district confirmed there have been rumors of violence at several schools this week.

The principal of Aloha High School, also part of the district, circulated a message on Thursday saying that an anonymous threat had been made in an online chat, and it included a student from that school.

A district spokesperson said the district's public safety officers, the Beaverton Police Department and Washington County Sheriff's Department had investigated the threats and did not find them to be credible.

However, KOIN reported that on Friday, additional school resource officers were on duty within the district.