Valley Center schools that closed after online threat plan to reopen Thursday with changes
Valley Center Public Schools, which closed Wednesday after online threats linked to reports of racism at a home basketball game, will have students back in the classrooms on Thursday, the district announced just after 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Students will notice some changes when they return:
- More police in and around the schools during and after school hours
- Additional officers at home and away athletic events
- Only visitors with previously scheduled appointments will be allowed in the buildings
- Extra counselors and social workers for students to talk to
The one-day shutdown came after Topeka basketball coach Geo Lyons said Valley Center students said the N-word, and told players on the Topeka High School boys basketball team that they would be hung. A video shared on social media by Topeka girls basketball player Jo’Mhara Benning shows a Valley Center High School student held up a Black baby doll during the game and students said “He’s a (expletive)“ as a Topeka player shot a free throw.
Valley Center previously said students involved in inappropriate chants were removed from the game.
Stories started to trickle out about what happened at Saturday’s game, which led to threats against the school district. Valley Center Police chief Lloyd Newman would not say what the threats were or if anyone has been arrested.
“There‘s still a lot of moving parts to this,” he said.
On Wednesday, superintendents at both school districts sent out a joint statement.
“We do not support or condone violence or any language or behavior that promotes violence and we both remain prepared to hold individuals accountable if threatening language or behavior is displayed disrupting the school environment,” the statement says.