UPDATE: NCSD Public Relations Director Tanya Southerland provided some further information in response to questions about an investigation into an alleged threat at Midwest School that “found no documented threat to students or staff.” This article has been updated.
CASPER, Wyo. — The Natrona County School District confirmed Thursday that a report was made to Midwest School administration alleging a “concern for the safety of the school” on Friday, Jan. 21.
“An investigation was immediately initiated Friday by Midwest School officials regarding the report received,” NCSD said in a statement sent to Midwest School families Thursday. “The investigation continued this week with the involvement of Midwest City law enforcement.”
The school district said that while Midwest School administration had identified “a perceived threat, there was no immediate documented threat.” NCSD Director of Public Affairs Tanya Southerland said in an email Thursday night that the investigation by Midwest staff on Jan. 21 “found that there was no documented threat to students or staff as a result” of the reported concern about the security.
“The report received identified a student,” Southerland wrote. “On Friday, January 21, 2022, Midwest staff determined that there was no documented threat to students or staff as a result of this report.”
No weapons were found on campus after the alleged threat was reported. NCSD said, however, that “disciplinary consequences were imposed.”
“We are unable to share student disciplinary consequences,” Southerland added in the Thursday afternoon email. “Furthermore, due to the small size of the student population, we cannot publish details that might mistakenly identify a student or student discipline.”
NCSD said Thursday afternoon that it has “contacted directly affected students and their parents/guardians” as part of the investigation into the alleged threat. The district expressed regret for not notifying all Midwest families of the situation sooner.
“However, unfortunately, all Midwest parents and guardians were not informed of this investigation or the unverified safety concern,” the district said in the statement sent to Midwest families on Thursday. “Measures are in place to ensure effective and appropriate communication systems, where appropriate, in the future.”
Southerland shared further information about the district's policy in response to a question from Oil City on Thursday:
Question: You mentioned that the district did not immediately notify all families about this investigation. What is the district's communication policy when reports of potential school threats are made?
Southerland: NCSD is committed to transparent and effective communication with families at all times, but especially when it comes to student and staff safety. Upon receiving a report, the first action is to ensure the safety of students, staff and visitors in the school environment. Then, upon initiation of an investigation, school officials turn to appropriate District officials for assistance, at which point a communication analysis and recommendation (by me) is given. This last step in starting the communication analysis was not done until today. District officials are reviewing the procedures followed for this situation.
