Official: No real threat to RHS, but will add security
ROSEBURG, Ore. -- After receiving reports of an alleged act of violence that was rumored to take place at Roseburg High School on Friday, officials say that it is just that: a rumor.
Roseburg School Superintendent Dr. Larry Parsons says that Roseburg school officials report the rumor being started by some people misunderstanding a conversation between other people.
Officials say that even though there is no real threat to the kids at RHS on Friday, they will be adding additional security as a precaution.
After a KPIC viewer emailed in to ask about the rumor, Dr. Parsons responded to let everyone know that the rumor was unfounded.
Here is the text from an email Tuesday morning from Dr. Parsons:
Like most every high school in America right now, rumors like this are circulating. The Roseburg High School administration believes it has found the source of the rumors which came originally from an innocent conversation among a couple students that was overheard and completely misunderstood. We have no evidence that any acts of violence are being planned, and, in fact, believe we have found the source of this rumor. Unfortunately the passing along of the rumor has taken on a life of its own. The high school says it never confirmed the rumor as being true, but rather only that the rumor is out there.
If we could substantiate any rumors as having validity we would respond accordingly, but right now we think we found the source of this rumor and it is not at all credible. However, even though we don't believe this is anything other than a false rumor, we will be adding security measures to the campus on Friday to demonstrate an abundance of caution.
With the "end of the world" happening tomorrow, the recent tragedy in a small-town elementary school in CT, this rumor, and now the rumor at Coffenberry...both of my children (one Fremont and one Fullerton IV student) will be staying home tomorrow. I'm granting them an extra day's vacation and granting myself the peace of mind I've lacked every day I've sent them to school this week. I'm really concerned about what crazy people may feel it's okay to do on the day when they think the world is ending anyway!
I pulled mine out of South Umpqua due to the "rumors" of one there too!
my kids staying home one of my kids has been having a hard anyways since friday! they need to make it easier for kids to talk to the school about thier feelings.
Just to be on the safe side my kid is taking their vacation early.call me paranoid if u want but thats what im doing until i feel its safer!!
 @Brian Howell I'm keeping my two children home as well.Â
 @Brian Howell agreed mine as well
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I pulled our oldest out regardless, they gave drama going around Eugene schools too.
This is why I'm staying home all week!
Erin, RHS staff never confirmed the rumor to be true, they just confirmed that there was a rumor and they were looking into it. Regardless of whether this is a joke or not, I completely agree with Angie Mahan, these are our babies no matter how old they are. And if it is some kid starting a rumor to get out of school a day early, then they need their butt kicked for starting a rumor like this!
If they are only putting more security Friday and already talked to source of rumor what's going to stop them from changing the day to any other day this week hope it's a rumor
I spoke to the school They confirmed they were looking into a rumor, not a confirmed a threat. I to am very concerned, love my children more than anything, but nothing good comes out of creating hysteria. We need to remain vigiliant and CALM!
If its a rumor why did RHS staff confirm it to be true before this article was posted.??
Take the guards from the prisons and guard our kids then you know that mass shootings where they will happen!
same thing happened at sutherlin elementary school i phoned the district this morning over a fb post a girl put about her and others hearing a threat. Turns out it was rumor but you can never be too careful. my son Still went to school there this morning i cant live in a bubble but the school took care of matters immediatly.
My sisters cousins uncle who was at burger king last week said this might be true..... and of course i saw it on the internet so it has to be TRUE....
i feel like its just some rumor to try and get that day off of school. kids will do anything to get a day off. i would know i go to school there.
I'll be THRILLED if this does turn out to be nothing more than a rumor. However, I'd like to point out that I called the RHS Admin office immediately after receiving a text about this alleged threat from my son. The person I spoke to in the Admin office told me that the threat had been confirmed as real and that they were actively looking into it. You can understand how this statement by the office staff member aroused serious concern on my part. I immediately shared the info via my FB page, since of course, I'd done my due diligence and got confirmation from RHS first. My intent was not to "start a panic", but to share awareness of a possible threat to our children and RHS staff members. I've linked this story on the same post now that this has come to light. My hope is that the only thing that comes of this is added security at RHS this Friday.
@Jessie B. Jessie thank you for stepping up and taking the precautions as I did to call the school and inform them of this. Without the help of the parents and the community, things could potentially be worse. We all need to stand up and inform others about the things we see and hear even if we think they are rumors. We need to take a stand and make sure our families and the ones around us are protected.
Could be kids just trying to get out a day early for break, but any more these days, who wants to take the chance? My kids are much more important than that!
Rumor or not it would be nice if the school districts would be more cautious and not take someone's word that its just a misunderstanding. These are people's babies you are talking about and with all of the crap that is going on lately it isn't worth taking chances with lives IMO
And yet, there are still people insisting it is true.... looks to be low attendance Friday...
i go to RHS and know how rumors get spread, i honestly dont think anything will happen, i think its just people trying to cause drama. we will be fine
I would not even take the chance if my kids went there.
If every parent would check on and hug their child before they go to school maybe that would keep the evil out. Oh and lock up your guns at home. Guns aren't the problem, gun owners are and it's up to us to resolve this without our rights being taken away. Hug your kiddos and ask them if they are ok in life.
Maybe they should add the caution of shutting the schools down for the day its one day they can make it up later and then we aren't putting anyones lives at risk... come on
Call it what you want . I'm not taking chances .
wow really??? this is crazy all this happening this week thank goodness christmas vactions is starting in my state tomorrow!!
My kids are also hearing tghe same rumor at SUHS for this Friday