Schools receive bomb threats, Havre delays opening during inspection

Schools across Montana, including in Big Sandy, Chester, Chinook, Harlem and Havre received bomb threats overnight, causing many, including those in Havre, to delay classes while law enforcement investigates.

"HPS will be working with the Havre Police Department to ensure adequate safety measures are in place," Havre Public Schools Superintendent Brian Gum said in a press release. "... If our situation changes we will immediately send a followup message."

Just before 10 a.m. this morning, Gum put out another release confirming that inspection of the schools was complete and they were open for the rest of the day.

The release said school will end at the normal time today, and Gum thanked everyone for their patience.

"I wanted to let everyone know that buildings have been cleared and we are ready for school," Gum said in the release. "Sorry for the inconvenience this morning, as I know it was short notice. Student safety is always our primary concern, so we navigate situations with that always in mind."

This morning Havre Police Chief Gabe Matosich said they've determined that the threat Havre received was not credible, but they inspected the school buildings out of an abundance of caution, finding nothing.

He said this threat, sent to schools across the state, appears to be part of the same spate of threats and hoaxes received by public officials and courthouses across the state in the past few weeks and his department has handed all the information they've gathered to federal law enforcement which will pursue the case further.

Big Sandy Superintendent Daniel Schrock said in a post on the Big Sandy School District's online live feed that Big Sandy also received threats.

He said, after consulting law enforcement, the Big Sandy school facilities were searched thoroughly and nothing found related to the threats. Unless more information is received from law enforcement, Schrock said, school would continue on its normal schedule today.

"I recognize that violent threats of this nature can cause anxiety and concern for our students and their families and want you to know that we take all threats seriously," Schrock added. "I am incredibly appreciative of local law enforcement for their efforts in reaching out to me this evening and for their support of our school district and its staff and students."

Schrock said they believe about 75 school districts in the state received threats.

Harlem and Chinook both received the same threat, but local law enforcement deemed it to be non-credible and they did not need to delay school.

Chester-Joplin-Inverness also received the same threat, and had increased police presence in their buildings, but no delay in classes was deemed necessary.

The North Star and Turner School Districts did not receive the threat.

Rocky Boy and Box Elder schools hadn't returned calls to confirm if they had received the same threat.

NBC Montana and other news outlets have widely reported that law enforcement has determined the threats to not be credible, with some schools in the state opting not to delay classes at all.