Updated at 8:01 p.m.
Canaan Schools closed Tuesday and Wednesday following a threat allegedly made by a student’s parent.
In an email sent to parents early Tuesday morning, superintendent Karen Conroy wrote that the school district learned of the threat to the school Monday afternoon shortly before 5 p.m.
On Tuesday just before 3 p.m., New Hampshire State Police announced they had arrested Shane Gobeil, of Canaan, in connection with the threat. Gobeil, 36, is being charged with harassment and being held on preventative detention, according to a police press release.
The New Hampshire State Police said the threat had been made “against members of the Canaan Vermont public school.” Neither police nor the school described the nature of the threat.
Earlier Tuesday, the Vermont State Police said in a separate press release that it had “initiated a response that involved coordinating with school officials and community resources and identifying and speaking to the individual involved.” The agency said that New Hampshire authorities were also investigating because the parent reportedly made the threat while in that state.
According to New Hampshire State Police, a trooper was assigned to an elementary school in neighboring Stewartstown, New Hampshire, on Tuesday as a precaution, while the investigation continued.
Police added that they were working with staff from SAU #7, which serves several northern New Hampshire communities, to ensure the safety of all students and staff.
In Conroy’s email to parents, the superintendent said that the school would “continue to work in partnership with the local authorities but feel it would be safer to cancel school all together today.”
An update posted to Canaan Schools’ website on Tuesday evening stated that “due to the current safety situation,” school is also canceled for Wednesday, June 14. According to the district’s calendar, Wednesday is the final day of the school year.
The update added that school officials are working on a plan to organize the retrieval of personal belongings.
The Canaan district includes a high school and elementary school on the same campus.
Neither Conroy nor principal Chuck Patterson responded to requests for additional details on Tuesday.