Security measures are stepped up at Lakeland Junior High School following the arrest of two students accused of having “hit lists” that threatened violence to other students.

The matter was investigated by Rathdrum Police officers, and the students, a 14-year-old and a 13-year-old, were booked Wednesday into the Kootenai County Juvenile Detention Center.

School Superintendent Becky Meyer sent a message to parents Thursday advising them of the enhanced security and apologizing for not notifying parents sooner about the situation.

“Following each incident throughout the district, we review our actions and make modifications based on lessons learned. We apologize for not sending parent notifications Tuesday night and have taken steps to rectify that error. As I am in my first year as superintendent, I will be reviewing all protocols and am taking steps to ensure that timely communication occurs moving forward,” Meyer said, in the message to parents.

The first note was found Tuesday, and Rathdrum Police were notified Wednesday morning, according to a press release issued by Interim Chief Tomi McLean. While investigating this incident, school staff located another “hit list” in the possession of a different student. The investigating officer was notified immediately and interviewed this student. At the conclusion of the second investigation the student was also arrested.

Principal Todd Spear sent a message Wednesday to parents and guardians of Lakeland Junior High students.

“An inappropriate drawing with limited words was confiscated from a student at school that was concerning in nature,” Spear wrote. “All threats at school are taken seriously and board policy and threat protocol were followed. Local authorities were contacted, a threat assessment was conducted, and appropriate steps have been taken to assure the safety of students and staff at school.”

Meyer, Spear and the Rathdrum Police Department each notified parents a school resource officer will be at the school throughout the week.

“Our department has also added extra patrol officers to patrol the area. The doors on the school have been locked and a district staff member is at the front door,” said a statement issued Thursday by the acting police chief.

The superintendent said she will personally be at the front entrance of the school in the mornings, and will continually check in with staff and students.

“We want to increase awareness of any safety concern and deal with it immediately,” Meyer told The Press. “It was a student that reported the concern and we want to make sure our students are validated when they bring concerns to adults… we want to make sure that continues.”

Funds from a levy approved by voters earlier this year are intended to be spent on key code doors for the district’s middle and high schools. The elementary schools already have them. Meyer has asked the board for Lakeland Junior High School to be the first school to get the locks.

The students who were arrested have not been identified because they are minors, and their case is sealed.

Should the students be released from custody, it’s likely they will face suspension and possibly expulsion.

Meyer said district policy gives the principal of a school the authority to suspend a student for five days if he or she threatened violence on school property. The superintendent has the option of adding another 10 days to that suspension. In addition, the Board of Trustees can add another five-day suspension.

At any time, for a student who threatened violence on school property, the superintendent can recommend the board hold a hearing. Should the student hearing happen, the board would decide if there is cause for the student to come back to school, or cause to be expelled, based on the individual circumstances of each case.