As homecoming weekend kicks off at Oak Park River Forest High School Friday a threat of violence is overshadowing the festivities.
According to the school-- the anonymous threat was received via regular mail and threatened violence during Saturday's homecoming dance.
School officials say when they received the threat they immediately contacted Oak Park police. Local, state and federal authorities are investigating.
Tamar Levinson and other parents learned about the threat in an email from the superintendent.
“It's just scary,” said Levinson. “[It’s] hard to be parent and stay calm when there are real threats.”
In response, the school stepped up security at Friday night's homecoming football game.
There was also a security sweep of the stadium and field house before the game and there will be another sweep of campus on Saturday, the school says.
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“I think they're doing a great job of being proactive,” said parent Christina Downey.
The threat comes just days after a student posted a racially insensitive photo on Snapchat.
School officials say the homecoming threat is not racially charged-- and they do not believe the incidents are connected.
“It's more frustrating than anything,” Downey said. “You want kids off to a good start and several things have happened at beginning of the year.”
Still, many parents say they won't let the threat keep their children from the dance.
“I think he's not going to change his life because someone wrote a letter,” parent Mike Adams said of his son.
The school is offering a refund to any students who decide not to attend the dance because of the threat.
The dance is expected to go on as planned.
