Every public school in Willmar went dark on Tuesday after district officials said they received a safety threat late Monday, prompting a full shutdown of classes and activities while police and administrators sort out what happened.
Independent School District 347 announced the closure Monday night, telling families that there would be no in-person classes and no move to remote learning while the situation is under review. The pause is intended to give investigators room to work before anyone is back in the buildings.
According to KSTP, the district posted online that it had “received a threat regarding school safety” and that officials “immediately began an investigation in close collaboration with local law enforcement.” The notice, linked in the station’s report, adds that authorities need more time “to fully investigate and determine the credibility of this threat.” As of Tuesday morning, no further details about the content or source of the message had been released.
Closures Have Been Hitting Other Minnesota Districts
Willmar is not the only district pressing pause over safety concerns. CBS Minnesota reported that Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan ISD 196 shut down schools in mid-March in response to multiple online threats. The outlet also noted that South St. Paul Public Schools shifted to e-learning the following week while police investigated a separate threat. In each case, officials cited ongoing law enforcement reviews and an “abundance of caution” as the reason for keeping students home.
What Families Need To Know Right Now
For Willmar, district leaders confirmed that all Tuesday activities are canceled and that there will be no e-learning or remote classes for the day. Families are being told to watch for updates through the district’s usual alert systems.
Official notices and contact information are available on the district website at Willmar Public Schools. Parents with urgent questions can call the district’s main line at 320-231-8500.
Investigation And Next Steps
Local law enforcement is leading the investigation, and the district says it will share more when investigators say it is appropriate, KSTP reports. Officials have not said whether they expect any arrests or charges at this point. Residents are being urged to rely on official updates from the district and police while the review continues.
We will update this story as new details become available.
