Brookings police say they have identified the person who wrote a threatening note that caused the school district to close for the day.

The Brookings School District canceled school Tuesday after a note was found at Brookings High School Monday afternoon that contained a "threat of violence," school officials said.

The specific threat or what was included in the note has not been released, but Brookings Police Chief Dave Erickson said the person who wrote the note was a student who "did not have the intent or the means to carry out the threat."

"The threat to the students or staff no longer exists," Erickson said in a statement.

Information from the investigation will be sent to the state's attorney's office, which may choose to pursue charges against the student.

Schools will reopen on Wednesday, Superintendent Klint Willert said.

"We have a confession from a student regarding this matter," Willert said in a statement. "The student has assured us that at no time was there an intent to act on the threat."

Despite the lack of credibility of the threat, Willert said the school district takes any threat seriously and said there will be disciplinary action taken against the student.

School officials decided at 8:45 p.m. Monday night to cancel school and all activities on Tuesday. Erickson said the note was found at the end of the day by a staff member.

Earlier in the day, Willert said the recent rise in school shootings caused the district to be more aggressive in responding to the threat, which is why schools were closed.

"Our children's safety, as well as the safety of the school staff, is our No. 1 priority," he said. "In keeping with that, we felt the necessity to cancel school and all school activities for the day. This will allow time to fully investigate the threat to ensure the safety of the students and staff."

Parent: 'I trust their judgment'

Some parents in Brookings had to change plans due to the school cancellation. Carrie Bates, a home daycare provider, said she had two additional children attend her daycare on Tuesday due to the closure.

Brookings resident Dhiraj Sharan stayed home with his children, who attend Camelot Intermediate School and George S. Mickelson Middle School.

Sharan learned of the threat after receiving an automated call from the Brookings School District on Monday night.

"It does have me concerned," Sharan said of the threat, but he added that he felt the school handled the situation well. "I trust their judgment: I have no complaints."

Jay Caylor is another father who received a call about the incident. Two of his children attend Brookings High School, and he said he was satisfied with the decision to close school.

"(The school district) is just being cautious, and I don't have a problem with that," Caylor said.

This is a developing story. Stay with argusleader.com for updates.

EARLIER STORY

All schools in the Brookings School District are closed Tuesday, Oct. 16, after a threat was found at Brookings High School, according to an announcement on the district web page.

The district said it is closing to "allow for collaboration" with the police department.

Parents received a phone call about the closure Monday night.

All activities are also cancelled.

The nature of the threat wasn't released, although the announcement to parents said it was found at the end of the day at the high school.

When reached Monday night, the Brookings Police Department declined to provide more details about the threat to the Argus Leader. More information is expected to be released Tuesday morning.

The full message:

"All schools in the Brookings School District will be closed on Tuesday, October 16 to allow for collaboration with the Brookings Police Department. A threat was found at the end of the day at BHS on Monday, October 15. There will also be no activities on Tuesday, October 16."