The Waterloo Police Department plans to submit paperwork to the Monroe County State’s Attorney to consider possible charges of disorderly conduct against two male Waterloo High School students following a Thursday evening phone prank.

Police said the two juniors somehow obtained a list of phone numbers and sent “robocalls” to an estimated 500 or more parents of WHS students falsely claiming the school would be closed Friday due to a gas leak. Waterloo school superintendent Jim Helton said the district quickly sent out phone calls of its own Thursday night to all parents advising them of the hoax and assuring them that school would be open as originally scheduled.

“That’s about the only charge we can find for what they did,” Waterloo Police Chief Jim Trantham said of the pending disorderly conduct charges.

Trantham added school administration officials are handling the matter in terms of potential disciplinary action on their end.

On Friday, Helton had this to say:

“Last night’s prank call to various students/parents regarding WHS being closed was verified as generated by specific students,” he stated in an email seeking comment. “Our policies and regulations guide us in our response; there will be appropriate consequences for the inappropriate action.”

For updates to this story, read the April 16 print edition.