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The North Branch School Board May 8 had a chance to briefly discuss a high school lockdown that happened just two days before the regular Board meeting.

The high school was placed in lockdown when a social media post was discovered May 6 about 10 a.m. seeming to depict a person with a firearm inside a  recognizable area in the high school.  The firearm turned out to be inoperable and was described as a “replica.”

There was an arrest announced within hours, and an investigation is still underway.  No injury resulted and students were back to regular schedules by mid-day.

Chisago County Attorney Janet Reiter told the Press the following Monday the 16 year old suspect  had been petitioned into court as a juvenile. Due to the age and offense severity, no other information is going to be made public, she added.

Superintendent Sara Paul said families within the district were to receive new communication from school officials; but there will be continued debriefing on the  procedure. 

When North Branch high school safety protocols were activated May 6,  warning students and staff that a lockdown was being implemented, everybody understood this was not a drill.    Supt. Paul explained that’s because North Branch does not do unannounced drills related to an alleged threat on the grounds or inside the building. 

When there is a perceived threat inside a school building the lockdown protocol requires anybody in the building to get out of sight, remain silent ad lock access doors. In the standard response protocols that North Branch utilized and has trained  for,  Supt. Paul said the communication among law enforcement and school authorities proved to be exemplary.  The alleged responsible partie(s) were identified in six minutes.      

School Board member Adam Trampe stated he wants the district to take “the hard line” on the suspect.  The prosecution of the minor-aged person needs to send a message the district doesn’t put up with this kind of offense, he concluded.

Board member Jesse LaValla said this incident proves the need to have policy and protocols,  and he said the administration and staffers showed they are to be trusted.

Board Chair Tim MacMillan added the community can be assured that safety of students and staff will remain as items for consideration on the Board agenda and in retreats. 

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