BRUNSWICK

Like other regional schools, local institutions were on a higher alert Wednesday after rumors of threats posted on social networking website Facebook suggested harm would be done to high schools in Cumberland and York counties.

Police probed the alleged threats and found nothing. In any event, school officials reacted promptly to the threat in the wake of the Dec. 14 massacre of 20 children at a Connecticut elementary school.

Brunswick schools Superintendant Paul Perzanoski posted a letter on the Brunswick School Department website Thursday morning to reassure parents and others that school officials and authorities are paying close attention, especially in the wake of last Friday’s shooting in Connecticut.

“Law enforcement is continuing to investigate the authenticity of the message,” the letter reads in part.

“All threats are taken seriously, which is why we have a town emergency plan and crisis plans in each building. … Staff members have been extremely earnest in their practice and their observations. While no plan is foolproof, we have practiced for the unthinkable.”

Likewise, local police departments say they plan to have resource officers in schools.

State police looked into the origin and credibility of the threat and released a statement Thursday, calling it bogus.

“We’ve chased baseless rumors throughout the past 24 hours and found no credible threat directed at any Maine school,” Col. Robert Williams, chief of Maine State Police, said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

jtleonard@timesrecord.com