'Potential online threats' prompt District 196 high school closures Tuesday

Potential threats close MN school district

High schools in the Rosemount-Apple Valley- Eagan Public Schools District 196 were closed Tuesday morning due to "potential online threats."

ROSEMOUNT, Minn. (FOX 9) - High schools in the Rosemount-Apple Valley- Eagan Public Schools District 196 were closed Tuesday morning due to "potential online threats."

High schools closed Tuesday

What we know:

According to a District 196 message, officials were notified about potential threats at the high schools. District officials said they are working with local law enforcement, and "out of an abundance of caution" high school campuses will be closed on Tuesday. 

"We are acting with safety as our first priority to cancel schools today to allow law enforcement to fully investigate this situation," the message read. 

Students already at the school are being dismissed and will be transported home by buses. 

High schools within the district include Apple Valley High School, Rosemount High School, Eagan High School, Eastview High School, and School of Environmental Studies, according to the district website. 

What we don't know:

The district did not disclose the nature of the threats. FOX 9 reached out to District 196 for more information. 

Eastview High School investigated social media threats Monday

Dig deeper:

The district-wide closure came one day after Eastview High School alerted families to a concerning social media post suggesting a possible threat against the school. In two messages sent Monday, obtained by FOX 9, Eastview officials said they were working with Apple Valley Police Department to identify the source of the post but had been unable to find "specific, actionable, or confirming information" to support the claim. 

Eastview High School remained open on Monday, and school officials urged families with safety concerns to contact Apple Valley Police Department or the school directly and not post it on social media. 

"Do not contribute to the gossip or rumor by reposting or sharing the unconfirmed information," the message read.

What we know:

It's currently unknown if the threat Eastview was investigating on Monday is connected to Tuesday's closure.

FOX 9 has reached out to Eastview High School for more information. 

This is a developing story, check back for updates.