Students at South Routt Elementary School will be kept indoors Tuesday and escorted to and from buses after threats of kidnapping were made against a school staff member’s family.

Parents were informed of the extra security precautions in a letter sent home with students Monday night.

South Routt School District Superintendent Scott Mader said the students under threat will not attend school for the next few days as authorities search for the suspect.

Students will be allowed outside of the school building in Yampa today only when necessary, Mader said.

“We’re going to keep them inside for as much time as we possibly can.”

Parents received a letter Monday night informing them that threats were made against a school employee who is not a classroom teacher. Mader said he spoke with Routt County Sheriff Gary Wall, and that deputies from the Sheriff’s Office will make extra patrols near the school throughout the day.

“We feel like we’ve done everything we should be doing and we’ve been told everything we should under these circumstances,” Mader said.

Some parents are still keeping their children home tomorrow despite the extra precautions.

One mother, who has a son at South Routt Early Learning Center and a daughter at the elementary school, said she will keep her children from school until she is sure the threat has passed. She requested that her name not be used for the safety of her children.

“I feel like if the threat has been made, and until he’s not here, I feel like my children will not be safe there,” she said. “I’m glad they’re doing something and I’m absolutely happy with what they have done, but I’ll be keeping my children at home.”

Mader described the suspect as a Hispanic man, 190 pounds and 5 feet, 11 inches tall. Teachers at the school were provided a picture of the suspect and given information on lockdown procedures.

Mader also said parents can drop off and pick up their children as they normally would.