Portales classes 'going well' after 'unsubstantiated threat'

PORTALES — School officials in Portales on Monday notified parents of an “unsubstantiated threat to the high school through social media,” according to Superintendent Johnnie Cain.

Classes were held as normal, but additional security was provided at the high school and junior high school, Cain said.

Cain said classes were “going well” late Monday and there was “nothing to make us or police believe (the threat) is credible.”

The exact nature of the threat was not released.

According to the news release:

• Portales police on Sunday evening were made aware of the threat.

• Police notified the school district, but there “was no credible information to substantiate a threat to the schools.”

• Parents were notified of the threat at 7 a.m. Monday through the school messenger system.

• Police are continuing to investigate the incident.

Cain said student attendance was down slightly for the day. He said about 8 percent of the 2,700 students missed school, but “some of those are regular absences for sick kids.”