Oklahoma schools on lockdown after threats; Dewar closes Monday

Multiple Oklahoma school districts are taking precautions Monday after threats were made toward schools, prompting soft lockdowns and at least one closure as authorities investigate.

Dewar Public Schools announced all schools would be closed Monday after an online threat was discovered late Sunday night.

In a statement, the district said law enforcement has been notified and is investigating the credibility of the threat. School officials said the closure was made out of an abundance of caution.

WATCH: Oklahoma schools on lockdown after threats; Dewar closes Monday

“More information will be provided as it becomes available,” the district said.

The district has also canceled its softball games for the day.

The district has announced it will be back open for classes Tuesday.

Henryetta Public Schools also moved to a soft lockdown Monday morning, according to Superintendent Jason Price.

“We have been made aware of information sent to several school districts that has inspired us to begin a soft lockdown,” Price said in a statement. “Our students will be allowed to move within their buildings, but no outside activity will currently occur.”

Price said local authorities have been contacted and asked parents not to check students out of school while officials work to keep building entries secure.

The soft lockdown has since been lifted.

Nowata Public Schools also reported being under a soft lockdown Monday.

Bristow Public Schools said they are aware of the situation and that police are actively patrolling campuses.

Curtis Shelton, the Superintendent of Bristow Public Schools, told 2 News there are secured entries at each of the district’s buildings, but they still decided to ask for more patrol officers around the buildings to stay vigilant.

He said that while the threat wasn’t considered viable, he wanted to do everything in his power to protect students.

He said the district will continue to operate with higher security measures tomorrow.

Beggs Public Schools said they was "aware of concerning social media posts circulating about schools in Oklahoma" and was "increasing police presence on campus out of an abundance of caution."

Claremore Public Schools announced a lockdown through its safety alert system at 11:20am. The original alert is attached below:

"Claremore Public Schools is aware of a reported potential threat involving Claremore High School this morning. All students and staff are safe.

Upon receiving the report, Claremore Police Department, the School Resource Officer, and school administration responded immediately. As a precaution, Claremore High School is on lockdown, while Will Rogers Junior High and Roosa Elementary are in secure-in-place status.

Law enforcement is on site and actively investigating the report and securing the buildings. During this time, no one will be permitted to enter or leave the affected buildings. We ask families and community members to avoid coming to the campuses and keep school phone lines clear, so staff and law enforcement can remain focused on the response.

We understand families will want additional information. We will provide verified updates through the CPS website and mobile app as they become available.

It was not immediately clear whether the threats are connected. Authorities have not released details about the nature of the threats or any possible suspects."

The lockdown lasted until 11:54am, when the alert system sent this alert out, stating it was not a credible threat:

"Zebra Families,

Claremore Public Schools (CPS), in coordination with the Claremore Police Department (CPD), has determined that the reported potential threat this morning was a swatting incident and has been deemed not credible.

CPD’s investigation determined the call originated from what AT&T identified as a spoofed phone number. The lockdown at Claremore High School and secure-in-place protocols at Will Rogers Junior High and Roosa Elementary have been lifted. All schools have returned to normal operations, and all students and staff are safe. Out of an abundance of caution and to provide additional peace of mind for our students, staff, and families, CPD will continue to maintain a strong law enforcement presence at our schools today.

We are grateful to the CPD and our School Resource Officers for their immediate and thorough response. We also thank our students and staff for following safety protocols and cooperating throughout the incident.

We know situations like this can be concerning for our families. Please know that the safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority, and we will always take reports of potential threats seriously and respond accordingly. Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and trust in Claremore Public Schools."

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

According to the Nowata Police Department, there are currently no updates.

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