Fewer Students, But No Issues As Ladue Schools Guard Against Threat

Attendance was down Thursday at Ladue School district buildings, but otherwise, all seemed to be quiet after school leaders learned Wednesday of a threat posted on an Instagram account with a picture of the man who shot and killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT last month.

According to FOX2, the account said “Those who cry to the news stations can’t stop me.”

The threat came a day after school officials were investigating another Instagram account circulating around Ladue Middle School that had pictures of students and crude comments attached to them.

“I know the parents felt safe today. I really didn’t get any complaints. Attendance was down somewhat. Some parents erred on the side of caution keeping their kids home from school,” district spokeswoman Susan Dielmann said.

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Thursday, school officials exerted extra caution and delivered an overnight message to school parents and the media that security would be heightened and extra caution taken at all buildings in the district.

School officials were working with local police in Ladue, Olivette and Creve Coeur at 2 in the morning to make sure all security possible would be in place.

District spokeswoman Susan Dielmann said police patrolled all of the schools during high-volume hours like arrival and departure time for students. There was no noticeable police presence spotted at Spoede Elementary School and the West Campus on Ladue Road in a pair of checks around midday.

Creve Coeur Police did not return messages seeking comment on the department's response to the threat.

Ladue officials would like to talk to students, but so many photos are posted on Instagram accounts, finding any pattern is hard to do. Police forensics experts are on the case now.

The postings at Ladue Middle School come at an ironic time, as the school was named  a “School of Character” in Missouri two months ago, and is now going on for recognition in a national contest.

Ladue officials expect it will be business as usual Friday.