Threat reported at South Putnam Middle School

A drawing and message found Thursday on a boys’ bathroom wall has prompted heightened alert at South Putnam Middle/High School.

Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt reported that as school was dismissing, someone drew a picture of a gun in the middle school boys’ bathroom with the message “school shooting -- be ready.”

Local police are involved, Bernhardt reported, as authorities try to determine how serious the threat is.

In the meantime, police were set to be present during school activities both on Thursday evening and during the school day on Friday.

“While we are not aware of any credible threat at this time, we take the safety of our students and your children very serious and want you to be informed of what has happened,” Bernhardt wrote in a message to parents.