WAVERLY, IA — Police in Waverly are investigating a social media post that alarmed families in the Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District and prompted extra police patrols at the start of the school week.

Authorities said they were first notified Sunday night at about 7:15 p.m. after the post began circulating among students. Police then worked with the Butler County Sheriff’s Department to check its legitimacy, determine where it came from and assess the intent behind it.

Investigators later identified a boy as the creator of the post. Police said he does not have access to firearms and would not be in school Monday.

Post included image of what appeared to be a firearm

Superintendent David Hill told parents in an email Sunday night that the message included images of what appeared to be a firearm. It also contained the words, “Don’t come to school tomorrow.”

That combination of imagery and language led school officials and law enforcement to treat the post as a serious safety concern rather than a casual online comment. The district moved quickly to notify families before the next school day.

Hill also appeared on KWAY Monday morning to repeat the warning and explain that administrators were taking the matter seriously. No injuries were reported, and officials have not said the post was connected to any actual weapon at school.

Police and sheriff’s deputies worked together on the investigation

The Waverly Police Department said it coordinated with the Butler County Sheriff’s Department as investigators tried to determine whether the post posed a real threat. Their work focused on the post’s origin, the person responsible and whether there was any immediate danger to students or staff.

Police said they confirmed the boy’s identity as the person who created the post. They also said he does not have access to firearms, a detail that appears to have been important in evaluating the level of risk.

Officials did not release the boy’s age or say where the post was first shared online. They also did not describe any charges or discipline related to the incident.

Superintendent emailed parents Sunday night before classes resumed

Hill sent an email to parents Sunday evening to alert them before students returned to school Monday. The message was intended to calm concerns while also making clear that administrators and police were aware of the situation.

The timing mattered, since the report of the post came in just hours before the next school day. By notifying families that night, district leaders gave parents time to learn what investigators had found and what precautions were being taken.

The superintendent’s comments on KWAY Monday morning reinforced that the district was still responding to the situation as the school day began. The district has not said whether any additional safety measures were put in place beyond the police presence.

Waverly police plan extra patrols through the week

In response to the post and the concern it caused, Waverly police said officers will provide extra patrols through the week. The added presence is meant to reassure students, parents and staff while the investigation continues.

The Butler County Sheriff’s Office is also still investigating. Authorities have not said whether the post will lead to any criminal case or school discipline, and they have not provided a timeline for when the review may be finished.

Officials have not said whether any other students were involved in sharing the post or whether anyone else is being investigated. For now, the district and law enforcement are focused on making sure school continues safely.

District remains on alert as investigators review intent and origin

Although police have identified the creator, investigators are still looking at the broader circumstances surrounding the post. That includes how it was shared, what the boy intended and whether anyone else saw or reacted to it before it reached parents and police.

The case shows how quickly a social media message can prompt a large response from school officials and law enforcement. In this case, the combination of a firearm image and a warning not to come to school led to immediate scrutiny and a districtwide alert.

As of Monday, officials had not described any interruption to classes, and they have not said the post resulted in a shutdown or closure. The district’s main public message was that the matter was being handled by police and that extra patrols would remain in place during the week.