By Michael Bielawski
In recent weeks, multiple Vermont schools have received various threats, none of them followed by physical attacks. On Friday, there was another incident reported by State Police in Danville, the third such incident since late March when there was a similar threat in Arlington.
Det Sgt. Vienna GildeaI, speaking for the State Police on the Morning Drive, recently confirmed the trend.
“With my experience that the biggest threat Vermont faces is more threats towards schools,” she said on April 10. She added, “I just want to clarify when I say threats that doesn’t always mean confirmed or [a real threat]”.
Danville
In Danville on Friday, State Police report at about 12:15 pm they were notified “of a reported verbal threat involving students bringing firearms into the Danville School.” It continues that troopers from both the State Police and from the Department of Motor Vehicles “immediately responded to the school to begin an investigation.”
The police, with officials from the Danville School, eventually determined “that the school and everyone inside it are safe.” They report that no firearms were located during the investigation, and the students involved were “determined not to have any immediate means to carry out the reported threat.”
Arlington
State Police investigated “a reported verbal threat involving students” at Fisher Elementary School in Arlington. The comments were reported to the school on March 26, and then they notified State Police.
Their investigation “identified the students involved and determined they did not have any weapons or an immediate means to carry out the threat. Classes proceeded as normal.” They were unable to identify the individual in question due to the kid’s age.
12 schools in one threat
On Tuesday, April 8, there were threats sent to 12 separate schools. The report states, “The investigation is continuing into an apparent hoax call targeting 12 schools across Vermont on Tuesday with false reports of shootings.” VDC covered the incident.
It continues, “The incident began at about 6:35 p.m. Monday, April 7, 2025, when the Vermont State Police was notified that an anonymous user had utilized the Department of Defense Self Helpline chat function to make threats against several middle and high schools across Vermont.”
Police suspected it to be a hoax.
“Characteristics of this threat were consistent with previous hoax threat and swatting campaigns targeting critical infrastructure. Threats to the named schools have all been unfounded.”
Schools impacted by this threat include Middlebury Union High School, Mt. Abraham High School in Bristol, Vergennes High School, Arlington Memorial High School, Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, Long Trail School in Dorset, Mt. Anthony Union High School in Bennington, Burke Mountain Academy in East Burke, Danville School, Hazen Union High School in Hardwick, Lyndon Institute, and St. Johnsbury Academy.
A local trend?
In 2023, there was a similar occurrence of numerous Vermont schools having to close due to hoax threats.
“Colchester High School was one of the more than 20 K-12 schools in Vermont that received what turned out to be phony threats of violence Wednesday,” MyChamplainValley.com reported.
A national trend?
According to the National School Safety and Security Services, “Schools face new wave of violent threats sent by social media and other electronic means, study says.”
It continues, “A nationwide epidemic of violent school threats is breeding fear, anxiety, and frustration for educators, children, and parents. While the vast majority of these threats are anonymous and turn out to be hoaxes, they have to be investigated and taken seriously. Hundreds of schools are losing classroom teaching time, police are wasting resources, children are frightened, and parents are angry and alarmed.”
Left defenseless? Increasingly over the years, Vermont schools continue to give up on rather than hire more armed protection for their schools.
The author is a writer for the Vermont Daily Chronicle
