UPDATE, 5:50 p.m. | The Odessa High School building has been cleared by police, and normal academic operations will resume Friday.
As a precaution, an extra law enforcement presence will be at the school Friday to provide reassurance.
"I would like to commend the students, staff and administration of Odessa High School for the calm, respectful and responsible manner in which they handled the evacuation. Their actions reflect the effectiveness of our safety procedures," the school district said in a Facebook post.
The Odessa R-VII School District will continue to work with law enforcement as an investigation moves forward.
ORIGINAL REPORT | Around 1:55 p.m. Thursday, high school students in Odessa, Missouri, were evacuated following potential safety concerns, according to the Odessa R-VII School District.
The Odessa High School superintendent told KSHB 41, "a threat written with graffiti on school property was reported."
The school district followed protocols to ensure the safety of students and faculty, and law enforcement was notified and are still on site.
As a precaution, around 600 students were released or taken to Odessa Middle School to wait for pickup.
The situation is being assessed by district officials and authorities, and families can expect an update from the school district Thursday night.
As of 4 p.m. Thursday, no suspects or students involved have been identified. It is also unclear if school will be in session Friday, according to the superintendent.
“We appreciate the cooperation and patience of our students, staff, families and community as we prioritize safety,” Odessa school district said in a Facebook post.
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