A threat scrawled on a bathroom wall led to a number of Southeast Bulloch middle and high school students staying home Friday.

While school officials deemed the campus safe, the day’s attendance was affected, said Bulloch County Schools Public Relations Specialist Hayley Greene.

Bulloch County sheriff’s Capt. Todd Hutchens said school administrators reported finding the handwritten threat Thursday that referred to “shooting the school” and said the Sheriff’s Office increased patrol in the area.

“The Southeast Bulloch schools and the school district took every precaution leading up to the opening of school on Friday,” Greene said. “The decision to open school was reached after guidance and input from law enforcement and district administrators. All believed it was safe for our students and employees to continue with normal school operations on Friday."

Nothing unusual happened, and students of both adjacent campuses had “a safe, peaceful school day,” she said.

Southeast Bulloch High School Principal Stephen Hoyle notified parents about this incident on Thursday evening at approximately 9:45 p.m. “He expressed to parents that school attendance is always a parent’s decision, but because school was in session for Friday, if they chose for their child to stay at home, children would be counted absent,” she said. “Absences would be excused with a parent note, and students would be given an opportunity to make up any missed assignments.” Southeast Bulloch Middle School’s principal, Dr. Torian White, delivered a similar message to the parents of his students since the schools are next door to one another, according to Greene.

Anyone with credible information that could lead to an arrest is asked to contact the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office at (912) 764-8888.