PORT ORCHARD — Classes were canceled today at Marcus Whitman Middle School after school administrators discovered a threatening message prior to the start of the school day at the South Kitsap School District facility.

Amy Miller, the school district’s spokeswoman, said administrators called 911 to report the threat and the campus was evacuated. Because law enforcement officers didn’t have enough time to properly investigate before the start of classes, they advised district administrators to cancel classes and close the Whitman campus for the day “out of an abundance of caution,” Miller said.

“Student and staff safety is our top priority and we take all threats seriously,” Miller, the district’s communication and public information officer, said.

She asked members of the community with information that might be helpful to the investigation to call 911. The district also has a tip line available on its website: www.skschools.org.