Forest Hills Northern High School Closed After Threat Sparks Safety Concerns

Another school in West Michigan has closed due to a reported threat, continuing a concerning trend in the area. Forest Hills Northern High School (FHNS) announced they would be closed today (October 2nd, 2024) after administrators were alerted late Tuesday night. The school acted out of caution following a tip received via OK2Say, a program that allows students and community members to report safety concerns anonymously.

A two-day investigation into the threat prompted the decision to close the high school, though no additional threats have been identified at other schools in the Forest Hills district. The Kent County Tech Center (KCTC) will remain open, but FHNS will not provide transportation for students attending KCTC. However, students who can transport themselves are still welcome to attend their classes.

You can read the full letter to parents and students here.

This is not the first time threats have disrupted local schools recently. Last Thursday, Grandville Public Schools were closed due to an alleged threat. Similarly, Three Rivers Community Schools canceled classes the following Friday after a threat was made on social media.

Following an incident involving a South Haven substitute teacher, the region has also seen a spike in copycat threats, leading to closures and increased security in multiple districts. While all of these threats have been non-violent in the end, it's still worrisome to see this trend happening so frequently (and so early) in the school year for these West Michigan districts. It just leaves parents, students and teachers on edge.

These repeated closures highlight the ongoing challenge that schools face in ensuring student safety while managing the uncertainty caused by threats, even when no direct harm is found. School officials and law enforcement say they will continue to take every report seriously as they prioritize the protection of students and staff. Here's hoping they continue to find those who are issuing these threats so they realize this is no joke.