A third of students at Bruceville-Eddy High School were absent Tuesday following a rumored threat about that particular date, according to an employee in Bruceville-Eddy's administrative office.
Bruceville-Eddy ISD first notified parents last week that unverified rumors were spreading about a possible threat.
But, according to Bruceville-Eddy Police Chief Bill McLean, there was no credible threat. He said the rumors began by word-of-mouth.
Even so, McLean's department stepped of police patrols on the district's campuses Tuesday. Mclean said the increased police presence would likely continue most of this week, as a precaution. However, due to the vague nature of the rumors, he said the department did not really have much information on which to investigate.
According to a transcript of a phone call made to parents last week by Superintendent Richard Kilgore, Bruceville ISD administrators investigated and interviewed dozens of students. As of late Tuesday morning, the district had uncovered no evidence that a threat was ever actually made.
"Understand that student safety is our number one priority at BEISD, and we take all threats to our students, faculty and staff seriously," Kilgore told parents.
Kilgore urged parents to speak with their students about the incident.
"Please have discussions with your child and communicate with them that the minute they hear a threat made to the school, they need to talk with administration, faculty or staff and not just pass it on to other students," Kilgore said.
