School ?threat? stemmed from misunderstanding

By Karyn Spory, Mt. Pleasant News

Police officers were present at Mt. Pleasant Community High School Friday following rumors of a threat to the school.

?We didn?t receive a threat,? said Mt. Pleasant High School Principal Todd Liechty. ?We had a parent call and tell us the students were talking about a shooting in school.?

While Liechty attempted to gather more information from the parent, a concerned student contacted the Mt. Pleasant Police Department.

?I have so much appreciation for the Mt. Pleasant Police Department,? said Superintendent John Henriksen. ?They worked backwards and got to the source and understood the genesis of it all.?

According to Liechty, a student had overheard two students talking about the TV show ?American Horror Story? where a recent episode involved a school shooting.

?Some other students overheard and I think we had the beginnings of a rumor,? said Liechty.

Police officers were on campus Friday morning as a precaution and to answer any questions parents or students might have, added Henriksen.

?(School shootings) are not something that students laugh off anymore; they take (threats) seriously. We have great kids here and they did what they needed to do,? said Liechty, who added he was thankful for the quick response and diligent work of the police department.