School officials caution linking graffiti threats to PRIDE events until OPP investigation is complete

LCCVI’s building will be closed to students tomorrow after threatening graffiti was found in the school.

Just before the end of the school day, Lambton OPP were called to the Petrolia school and students were kept inside their classrooms as police closed all the bathrooms and guarded them after the graffiti was found.

Students left the school at the regular departure time. Around 4 pm, parents received a notice from the school that the physical building would be closed Friday to allow for police to investigate the incident. Students would be learning online instead.

“Student and staff safety are a top priority for the LKDSB and we follow the direction of local police regarding matters of school safety,” said Director of Education John Howitt in a memo to parents obtained by The Independent.

Sources say the threat was linked to the schools planned PRIDE Day events Friday.

Howitt, in an interview this afternoon, says the board acknowledges that while they want everyone to feel welcome at Lambton-Kent schools – that is still not always the case.

However Howitt cautioned against “heavily linking” the incident at LCCVI with PRIDE day activities since the police are still investigating the threats.