Georgetown-Ridge Farm School District Superintendent Dr. Jean M. Neal says the school district has been given an “all-clear” after the cancellation of school Wednesday due to a threat. Here is the statement from Dr. Neal:
This is an update on the threat made against the School District this morning to the 911 phone
system. Georgetown Police Chief Renaker notified me that law enforcement have established
that there is no threat to the Georgetown Ridge Farm District. Law enforcement learned in their
investigation that the threat was made in retaliation to a dispute with a student on a X-Box
Gaming Console. The Georgetown Police Department have established that the person
responsible for making the threat against the District are not from this area and may be from
another country. Law enforcement will continue to investigate to identify the caller.
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Georgetown and Ridge Farm Police
Departments, Vermilion County Sheriff’s Office, and the University of Illinois K-9 bomb unit for
their assistance in investigating this threat. We respect and value the support of local, county,
and state police in helping us maintain a safe school environment. School will resume
tomorrow, Thursday, November 4, 2021.
Dr. Jean M. Neal, Superintendent
Meanwhile, Oakwood’s schools have gone to remote learning for now due to at least 14 students having tested positive for COVID, with over 200 students and rising that are considered close contacts.
Vermilion County Health Department spokesperson Douglas Toole says the health department supports school districts in any decision they must make concerning COVID, as there are many factors.
AUDIO: We’re in pretty routine contact with our school officials; the nurses, the princiapals, the superintendents; about how things are going in the schools. And it’s a dynamic situation, and sometimes schools look at having to go to remote learning because of the number of students who are out, the number of staff who are unavailable. There is not a set number, it just depends on the entire situation.
The Oakwood School District has scheduled all remote learning for at least through this Friday, November 5th.
