Perry County to reopen high schools Tuesday after threat, teen arrested

After closing two high schools in Perry County on Monday due to a threat, school officials say they will reopen on Tuesday.

Superintendent Dr. Marcia Smiley said classes will resume at RC Hatch and Francis Marion on Tuesday now that it is "all clear."

The Perry County Sheriff's Office announced on Monday that a 14-year-old was charged with making a terrorist threat in connection with the incident.

"We are slated to open tomorrow, our regular schedule," she told the Black Belt News Network. "And so we've been working in coordination with the Perry County Sheriff's Office and we've taken all of the appropriate steps and we're safe to return to school,” Smiley said.

Smiley said the decision to close was made after an anonymous threat was phoned in Sunday morning. Smiley reiterated it was only the one call but it would have affected students, faculty and staff at R.C. Hatch High School and Francis Marion.

Safety is job No. 1, she said, as well as “making sure that our students and employees are safe. So we take all the necessary precautions.”

She added, “we look forward to welcoming our students and staff back to school tomorrow.”