Although the Athens High School principal said rumors about a violence threat were unfounded, extra security precautions have been taken.

Athens High School Principal Mike Meek said there were no bomb threats made to the school.

"There was a rumor picked up over the scanner that said (police) hoped that we don't have a bloody Tuesday like they did in Colorado," he said. "But this was directed at all schools in Ohio. Someone just interpreted it to be this high school."

Athens County Sheriff David Redecker said no threats have been made to any school in the county.

"To put the minds of parents and students at rest (Principal Meek) requested that we have a few

uniformed officers at the school," he said.

However, deputies did not search for bombs because there was no reason to believe the rumors, Redecker said.

Meek said Athens High School has taken measures to ensure the safety of the students.

"We have a roamer - someone who walks around the school to make sure things are under control. We have doors that lock from the outside, a visitor sign-in and a person at the main door to greet people," he said.

Stacie Lawell, public information officer for the Ohio Department of Education, said after the Littleton, Colo. shootings, schools across the state suffered an increase of bomb threats and rumors.

"Typically in the spring we see an increase in bomb threats, and after Colorado, we saw a substantial increase in threats and individuals carrying weapons," she said. "Schools are now taking every precaution with incidents like that."

Redecker said one reason Athens High School was reluctant about the rumor was students not attending school were supposed to meet at Strouds Run State Park.

"If a rumor had substance, then we would check it out," he said.