Threat, Newtown fears prompt Ballard High to cancel assembly

Concerns about a possible threat prompted Ballard High School to cancel its winter assembly Friday, the one-week anniversary of the Newtown, Ct. school shooting.

Principal Kevin Wynkoop said there were vague threats made and rather than gather all the students in one area it was prudent to cancel the event.

“With all of the attention in the media to the tragic events of last Friday, we’ve decided to take every precaution to keep all of our students and staff members safe and cancel today’s winter sports pep assembly,” Wynkoop said in a voice mail message sent to all Ballard High School familes.

Wynkoop wouldn’t be more specific about the nature of the threat or whether it was specific to Ballard or broader.

Parents told KIRO Radio all the exterior doors to the school were locked throughout the day, and nearly a dozen Seattle Police officers were stationed there.

An SPD spokesperson refused to comment on the threats, saying only the department is working with the Seattle School District to increase safety at all schools. District offices were closed Friday afternoon for the start of Winter break and no spokesperson was available to comment.

SPD and the district announced Thursday it was forming a new working group to evaluate how to improve school safety.

“As more information becomes available from Connecticut and as our nation continues to have discussions about school safety, this working group will review recommendations from the Department of Education and law enforcement,” Superintendent Jose Banda said in a statement. “Together, we will work on sustainable plans for implementing improved safety measures across the District.”