Barrington High School Cancels Dance After Threat

Friday’s events in Newtown, Connecticut were a contributing factor

A northwest suburban high school cancelled a dance scheduled for Saturday evening after rumors circulated that someone was planning to bring a gun.

A release from Barrington 220 superintendent Dr. Tom Leonard said that conversations among students resulted in the decision to cancel the dance. School officials learned of the rumor that someone would bring a gun to the dance through parents and students Saturday morning.

“Some will say we are overreacting, but we have no reservations about being exceedingly cautious given the current atmosphere and our ongoing focus on protecting students,” Leonard said in the release.

Friday’s events in Newtown, Connecticut were a contributing factor, the release said.

“We won’t risk student safety or the possibility a copycat assailant could try to inflict violence at one of our own schools,” Leonard said.

The dance’s theme was the Mayan calendar end-of-the-world legend, the release said.

The origin and credibility of the threat had not been verified Saturday afternoon, the release said. Barrington police and school officials are investigating.

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