UPDATE:  Valley Center schools will reopen Thursday with additional security after online threats forced the cancellation of classes and activities for Wednesday.

The district said several safety measures will be taken as classes resume:

• There will be an increased law enforcement presence in and around our schools.
• There will be an increased number of officers who are monitoring our buildings and grounds after school hours.
• There will be additional officers at athletic events home and away.
• Counselors and social workers are available to students to visit with if needed.
• The Valley Center police department is working alongside the Park City police department, with support from the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office to keep our students and staff safe.
• Only visitors with previously scheduled appointments will be allowed inside district buildings.

The schools were closed Wednesday because of online threats following a basketball game.

During the Valley Center versus Topeka High basketball game on December 3rd, an inappropriate chant started in the student section. This lead to a series of threats being made Tuesday evening.

All school activities planned for Wednesday were also cancelled.

A joint statement was released Wednesday by the superintendents of the two districts, Dr. Cory Gibson of Valley Center and Dr. Tiffany Anderson of Topeka:

As both districts work in a unified manner to investigate matters related to the athletic events on Saturday, we as superintendents are both committed to ensuring a safe and respectful climate at school events. Incidents that occurred when individuals did not conduct themselves in ways that reflect our commitment to supporting students have been handled, and there are investigations that are ongoing. We will work together to ensure the appropriate individuals are held accountable and work together to prevent such incidents in the future. It’s important all parties allow for investigations to occur and that we model for students ways to address adversity when it arises. As superintendents, we are working jointly to address the issues and uncover the facts about what occurred so that inaccurate information and rumors are not circulated. The incident that occurred is concerning and we both need community support and grace to allow us to complete the investigation.

We are continuing discussions between the principals and superintendents as we investigate the issues. We do not support or condone violence or any language or behavior that promotes violence and we both remain prepared to hold individuals accountable if threatening language or behavior is displayed disrupting the school environment.

Thank you for allowing the districts to work together to fully investigate matters and address the issues in cooperation with the athletic association. Be assured that we both have the best interests of each other’s students and communities at heart in our conversations and decisions.