Fairview schools were under a soft lockdown on Friday after a reported threatening communication. 

Cullman County Schools Superintendent Shane Barnette said there was a report of a threatening communication made over an online video game service. 

After a student reported the communication, the threat was investigated, and the schools were on a soft lockdown as a precaution on Friday, he said.

A soft lockdown means that the outside doors are locked, and the school monitors each person who comes onto campus. 

Barnette said a soft lockdown is a common practice among schools as a precaution in these types of situations, but there was no credible threat to the schools. 

“They went ahead and did a soft lockdown because of the events that have been in the news,” he said.