West Bath schools closed one day after local threat; police later deem it not credible

The West Bath School Board heard from Superintendent during its Dec. 18 meeting that schools were closed for one day after a threat of violence was reported to a national hotline and traced to a Bath telephone number.

Superintendent (name: Superintendent) told the board that the tip did not name a particular school or specify the nature of the threat but prompted local authorities to close schools so officers could focus on investigating rather than managing students. "It was determined not to be credible," she said, adding that investigators identified the report as originating from Bath and that the police told the district the tip did not come from anyone associated with RSU 1 or West Bath schools.

The superintendent said the report involved a juvenile, which limited the amount of information police and school officials could publicly release. She thanked local police, the sheriff's department and first responders for their support and prompt response during the disruption.

School leaders also described the operational impact: some school events and volunteer schedules were disrupted and an "elf shop" event was rescheduled. The superintendent said district finances remain on track despite the interruption.

The board did not take formal action at the meeting related to the investigation; officials said the matter was handled by law enforcement and that the district will continue to coordinate with authorities on safety protocols and family communications. The superintendent encouraged anyone with questions to consult police statements and district communications for updates.