State police are investigating a threat made against Canaan Memorial High School in Canaan, a small town at the New Hampshire – Canada border with Vermont.
On June 13, the Vermont State Police investigated a report of a threat made by a parent of a student who attends the Canaan Public School system. It was learned the actual threat was made while the parent was physically in the State of New Hampshire. New Hampshire State Police was also notified and are actively investigating as well.
Vermont State Police say they take all reports of school threats seriously and initiated a response that involved coordinating with school officials and community resources and identifying and speaking to the individual involved.
The investigation into this incident remains ongoing. No one has been arrested, and there are currently no criminal charges. The state police is unable to provide additional details at this time, and questions may be directed to school officials. An increased police presence may be seen in the area of the school.
At a press conference today, Gov. Phil Scott and Vermont Agency on Education Secretary Dan French both said local school districts must decide for themselves if they want a school resource officer. The State of Vermont has neither funding nor authority to require school resource officers, they said. Federal funding for SROs has dried up, moving some school districts to decide to not cover the expense themselves, French said.
French said the state’s response will include an emphasis on school mental health, including mental health funding for staff members.