Principal Matt Stark said discovery of graffiti in one of the restrooms inside Brown County High School has put school officials on “heightened alert.”

Stark announced this morning that he activated a safety procedure that included running students through a metal detector and restricting student movement throughout the day.

Stark declined to comment on the nature of the graffiti or if the graffiti was found in a boys restroom or a girls restroom. He said limiting the information released could aid in catching the person or persons responsible.

Stark said the graffiti prompted a search of the school by officers from the Nashville Police Department and Brown County Sheriff’s Office Thursday evening. Police did not find anything to force closure of the school, he said.

“We’ve got to react as if [the graffiti’s message is] true, but it’s very frustrating because somebody’s being a jerk. That’s what I think,” Stark said.

Stark added that he intended to announce the discovery of the graffiti to students during third period and post information on the school’s website at www.eagleseye.net.

He is offering a $50 reward to anyone with information that leads to the conviction of culprit(s). He wants the culprit(s) bad enough to cover the reward out of his own pocket.

“There is a reward, and if I have to pay it myself, I will,” Stark said.

The person or persons responsible for the crime would be given an opportunity for due process, but if convicted of the offense, the possible consequences include being charged with a felony and expulsion for disruption of school.

Stark said he would contact the Brown County Democrat if an arrest in the case is made.