LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Schools around Kentucky have been forced to cancel classes and heighten security amid threats this week as police investigate.

At least four schools in Louisville took steps to notify parents and heighten security after separate verbal or social media threats. 

For a list of those schools and letters, click here.

This comes the same week that two other districts in Kentucky were on heightened alert because of threats. The Marion County School district canceled classes Monday after a threat was made against the high school. A 16-year-old was arrested and charged with terroristic threatening in that case. 

Also in Marion County, KSP said Tuesday a 14-year-old girl was arrested and charged with terroristic threatening regarding an alleged threat.

In addition this week, Hardin County officials determined that a threat against TK Stoner Middle School wasn't credible, but brought in extra security. Police arrested and charged a teenager with terroristic threatening within 12 hours after receiving the initial report.

At least four schools in Louisville took steps to notify parents and heighten security after separate verbal or social media threats.

Elizabethtown public information officer Chris Denham said Wednesday that threats disrupt the school day and are thoroughly investigated.

"Kids and adults alike, it will be taken seriously every time," Denham said. "The kids at our schools are our most precious resource and we're going to do everything in our power to protect them." 

Denham said juveniles found to have made threats could face consequences including spending time in the state's juvenile justice system until the age of 18.

"Minor or not, you still have a statutory obligation to follow the law," Denham said. 

He said all threats will be treated as if they are real. 

"If you make a threat, even if we determine it to be un-credible it's a complete disruption to the school day, it causes a litany of other issues, and you will be punished to the fullest extent of the law," Denham said.

Adair County Schools canceled classes Wednesday after receiving a "substantiated threat." The district's superintendent announced that classes were canceled in a Facebook post early Wednesday. Superintendent Jason Faulkner stated in the post that the threat was reported to the school district early Wednesday morning and is under investigation.

"At approximately 6:30 this morning we were informed of a Snapchat and the contents of the Snapchat message contained a gun that specifically mentioned Adair County," Faulkner told WDRB News. "When we were made aware of this our buses were en-route to pick up our students. We had to make a snap decision to redirect our buses and return our students home."

Faulkner said the timing of the threat was the driving factor in the decision to cancel classes for the day. 

"We're going to put the safety of our students first," Faulkner said. "There was no way we were going to allow students to come onto campus with even the slight potential of a threat."

The school district has around 2,600 students and is now working with local police, Kentucky State Police and Secret Service to investigate the incident.

"We have issued warrants for the accounts through Snapchat to see if we can backtrack that to its origin, but that's a process," Faulkner said. "We're in the midst of the process."

Faulkner thanked parents and bus drivers for their support Wednesday with a busy morning getting students back home safely. 

"Our bus drivers were amazing this morning. I mean, you talked about safety procedures and protocols, I don't think we practiced or I don't think it's in the manual to do a reverse drop-off after you've picked them up at 6:30 in the morning," Faulkner said. "Our bus drivers were fantastic. Within a matter of 25 minutes, I think we had all of our students who had been picked up dropped off at home when we had made the all call," he said.

In a post on Facebook Wednesday evening, the district said it would remain closed Thursday "out of a continued abundance of caution."

Classes were also canceled Wednesday in Taylor County after similar threats, the district said in a Facebook post late Tuesday evening, adding that "none of the online threats have been validated, however, I must err on the side of caution to ensure that students and staff are safe and prepared as we move forward with our school year."

Taylor County Schools posted on Wednesday afternoon that investigators didn't identify a valid threat to the school district. It said starting Thursday, increased safety measures will be implemented, including additional law enforcement officials. 

"Our SROs are in the process of prosecuting at least one person who was involved in what was found to be a copycat hoax, and we will push for maximum charges on this incident and any incidents to come," Taylor County Schools posted. "We take this extremely seriously as our children’s safety, well-being, and normalcy are being attacked. This is not okay, this is not the norm, and it is not acceptable."

The school district has created a team that will be focused on prosecuting cyber threats and crime. Taylor County Schools plans to return to class on Thursday. 

In Oldham County, letters were sent to parents of students at Oldham County High School and Locust Grove Elementary on Wednesday about a threat. It's not clear if it was the same threat or separate ones at each school. District officials said police are now investigating. 

In southern Indiana, Jeffersonville Police said they're investigating a school threat with Greater Clark County Schools. As of Wednesday night, school will still be held Thursday.

Jeffersonville Police Chief Kenny Kavanaugh said the threat was made in a social media post. 

The threats at local schools have been especially concerning in the wake of a shooting at a Georgia high school last week that left two students and two teachers dead. 

Anyone who sees an alarming is asked to send it to local law enforcement or contact the Safe Schools Tip Line at (866) 393-6659 or submit information online by clicking here. 

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