Manatee School for the Arts placed on lockdown after threat reported on social media

Manatee School for the Arts was placed on lockdown Tuesday after a student allegedly made a threatening comment on social media, school officials said.

School response and safety measures

Dr. Steve Marshall, principal of MSA said the school acted “out of an abundance of caution” and that students played a key role in reporting the threat.

“Our students are our eyes and ears, serving as a vital front line in our safety protocols, one of the many strong layers of defense we rely on to protect our campus,” Marshall said in a statement released to families.

The school is urging families to talk with students about what they post on social media and the seriousness of making threats.

Marshall asked families to monitor official school messages during safety incidents and to keep roads and the campus clear so first responders can move without obstruction

School and community background

The student suspected of making the threat was located on campus and taken into custody by local police, Marshall said. The student was removed from campus.