Multiple Threats Force Minnesota School District To Close All Schools

District 196 is a large public school district in Minnesota, the fourth-largest in the state, that serves over 28,000 students across parts of seven cities, including Eagan, Apple Valley, and Rosemount.

The district features numerous schools, including 17 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, 4 high schools, and specialized schools such as the School of Environmental Studies. It's recognized for its high academic performance and includes six National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence.

During the early morning hours on Tuesday, March 17, District 196 reported that several of its schools had received threats, and all schools within the district would be closed out of an abundance of caution.

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 All Schools in District 196 Closed On March 17

According to a notice posted on the District 196 website, multiple schools in the district had received "voicemail threats, which were first discovered at 3:30 a.m. this morning. District officials contacted law enforcement, who began investigating immediately."

District officials stressed that the safety of its students and staff is its top priority, so the decision was made to close all its schools while the investigation continues. This will not be an e-learning day; the schools are closed, and employees do not have to work.

At 10:00 a.m., the district provided an update that the investigation into threats received was and no additional information is available at this time.

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The Eagan Police Department continues to actively work "with neighboring law enforcement agencies and the school district to determine the origin and nature of these threats,” which couldn’t immediately be deemed credible or ruled out, according to a news release.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Eagan Police Department at 651-675-5700.