Traverse City Area Public Schools is closing Traverse City Central High School Thursday "out of an abundance of caution" after an "inappropriate racial comment of a threatening nature" was made at the end of the school day Wednesday.

In a letter to families Wednesday night, TCAPS Superintendent Dr. John VanWagoner said the incident was reported to building administration and is under investigation by local law enforcement and the district's administrative team. VanWagoner did not provide further details about the threat. "Due to the late timing of the investigation, I have made the decision to close Central High School for Thursday," VanWagoner wrote. 

The superintendent said he wanted to make parents aware of the "critical importance and sensitive nature of this topic. Any comment made, whether verbally or in writing, will be followed up by both school administrators and local law enforcement. Please discuss the importance of this topic with your child as all threats of school violence are taken extremely seriously and have severe consequences."

As school districts continue to deal with copycat threats in the wake of the Oxford High School shooting, VanWagoner said TCAPS was stressing the importance of the message "see something, say something" to students. "Ensuring students understand the importance of school safety provides an added layer to the safety and wellbeing of all who attend Traverse City Area Public Schools," he wrote.

All other TCAPS schools besides Central High School will be open as usual on Thursday.