*UPDATED – Precautionary school closures in Leduc

UPDATE #3 – 6:00 PM

Nisku, Alberta (June 5, 2022) – Leduc RCMP General Investigation Section have charged a 14-year-old youth in relation to reports of online threats directed at École Leduc Junior High (ÉLJHS) and Leduc Composite High School (LCHS) students and staff.

As this matter is now before the courts, no further information can be released.

The RCMP have informed us that there is no threat, or potential threat, to students or staff at ÉLJHS, LCHS, or any Black Gold Schools. All classes and activities will resume and all buses will run the normal schedule on Monday, June 6.

Black Gold would like to thank the RCMP for their work to resolve this case and ensure that our school communities are safe. We would also like to thank parents and guardians for their support and understanding during this incident.

Additional counseling staff will be present at both schools to support students and staff.

UPDATE #2 -4:00 PM

Nisku, Alberta (June 3, 2022) – Leduc RCMP General Investigation Section has taken carriage of the investigation. The investigation is ongoing. We remain in contact with the RCMP and there is no new information available to us at this time.

Leduc RCMP are asking anyone who has information in relation to this investigation to contact Leduc RCMP at 780-980-7267. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

The safety and wellbeing of students and staff is of paramount concern to the Black Gold School Division and we will continue to act with an abundance of caution. We will update parents by Sunday, June 5 at 6:00 p.m. At that time we will determine whether ÉLJHS and LCHS will be open on Monday, June 6.

UPDATE #1 -12:00 PM

Nisku, Alberta (June 3, 2022) – The Black Gold School Division continues to work with the Leduc RCMP as they investigate the social media threat of violence directed at École Leduc Junior High (ÉLJHS) and Leduc Composite High School (LCHS) students and staff.

We do not have any additional information at this time.

Our decision to close ÉLJHS and LCHS while the RCMP investigate the validity of this threat was made out of an abundance of caution for the safety, security, and wellbeing of our students and staff.

At this time, we feel it is premature to make a decision about whether ÉLJHS and LCHS will be open on Monday, June 6. We will provide Update #2 by 4:00 p.m. today.

“Threats like these are taken seriously and have a significant impact on students, staff and families,” said Sgt. Scott Lande, Leduc RCMP. “We take them very seriously and will investigate thoroughly as they have a very negative impact to our community’s feeling of safety and mental wellbeing.”

PUBLIC NOTICE

Nisku, Alberta (June 2, 2022) – Ecole Leduc Jr. High School (ELJHS) and Leduc Composite High School (LCHS) will be closed on Friday, June 3, 2022, and all classes, extra curricular, field trips, sports, and activities are cancelled. No school buses will stop at either ELJHS or LCHS on Friday.

All other Leduc schools will remain open.

This evening the Leduc RCMP made us aware of a social media post threatening violence against ELJHS and LCHS students and staff. It is early in the police investigation and we cannot comment on the validity of the threat. However, given the recent events, and to ensure the safety of all students and staff, we are exercising extreme caution while we let the police continue their investigation.

The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff is of paramount concern to the Black Gold School Division. We request that all students, parents, staff, and community members stay away from both Ecole Leduc Jr. High School and Leduc Composite High School on Friday, June 3.

We will provide an update at noon on Friday.

Sincerely,

Bill Romanchuk,
Superintendent of Schools/CEO