GOWRIE — Increased security measures were taken at the Southeast Valley High School and Middle School Thursday morning in response to a threat.

“We deemed that the threat was not credible,” Gowrie Police Chief Molly Anderson said Thursday afternoon.

She said a social media posting contained a potential threat to the school. She said the primary author of that posting was identified and was interviewed by officers. The investigation continues, and the Webster County Attorney’s Office has been contacted about the possibility of filing charges, she added.

As a result of the threat, the schools went into a “Secure the Perimeter” mode at about 9 a.m. The schools reverted to regular status at about noon. In the Secure the Perimeter mode, all entrances are locked and school staff members are posted at each of them. No one was allowed to enter or leave the buildings between 9 a.m. and noon. But inside the buildings, classes went on as usual.

“We want to express our gratitude to the students and staff who promptly reported the concern,” said Brian Johnson, the Southeast Valley School District superintendent.

“This underscores the importance of if you see or hear something, say something, approach to safety,” he added.

He said the safety of students, faculty and staff is the district’s top priority.

“We recognize that incidents like this can evoke a range of emotions and concerns,” Johnson said. “If any student, staff member or parent feels the need for additional support, we encourage them to reach out to their school office or counselor. We are committed to providing the necessary assistance.”

In addition to the Gowrie Police Department, Webster County sheriff’s deputies, Iowa State Patrol troopers and law enforcement officers from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources responded to the incident.