Threat at Marblehead High a false alarm

By Steven A. Rosenberg, Globe Staff

Marblehead High School students and parents were on high alert today after the school department received an e-mail mentioning the possibility of a weapon on school grounds.

Just after 7 a.m., School Superintendent Gregory Maass sent a townwide telephone voice message, informing residents of the potential threat, but assuring them that the school was safe.

“Through the night, we evaluated the circumstances with the police department and we believe it is safe for classes to go on as normal,” he said in the call.

The threat caused many students to stay away from the school. Throughout the day, police cruisers were parked outside of its entrance, and uniformed police stood watch in the school’s lobby. Maass and High School Principal Ken Weinstein declined to be interviewed.

In a statement released shortly before the end of school, Maass said there was no current threat to students.

Maass wrote in the statement, “After investigation by both the police and school administration, the school administration and police department determined that there is no current threat to students or staff at the high school and that a reckless statement was made which resulted in a rumor that was repeated by others.”

“We are pleased that one of the students who heard the rumor came forward to report it and we thank all of the students and others who cooperated in the investigation,” the statement said.