Local schools placed on lockdown, evacuated after “false call” threats
UPDATE: According to Rockcastle County Schools, Kentucky State Police have finished a thorough sweep of Brodhead Elementary school, and say the school is safe for students to return.
Right now, students are having lunch and will return to school when they’re finished.
ORIGINAL STORY:
MADISON COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ) – Citing a “mysterious call” to the school office, Kingston Elementary school was evacuated this morning (3/21).
Students and staff were relocated to Church on the Rock, because of cold temperatures.
The school doesn’t believe students and faculty are in any danger, but are cooperating with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, while the building is being checked.
No word on what the caller said.
In a Facebook post, the school said parents and guardians can pick up their children at the church beginning at 11:00 am.
They ask parents to follow the procedure below in order to pick up their children:
1. You MUST be on the check out card in order to pick your child up.
2. You MUST have a valid ID with you in order to pick your child up.
3. Check out will not begin until ALL students and staff have arrived and are accounted for at Church on the Rock.
We want to emphasize that everyone is safe and doing well. This relocation is primarily because we do not want our students and staff to wait outside in cold temperatures while the Sheriff’s Department is following all safety protocols and checks at our building.
A similar situation happened at Brodhead Elementary School in Rockcastle County, also this morning.
A post there said students were evacuated after what officials believe was a swatting call.
The post says out of an abundance of caution, all schools in the district have been placed on “lock-out.”
The school says, “All students and staff are secured at the evacuation site. Lunch is being prepared and delivered to students.
We will provide more updates when possible.”
Also, a lockdown at Madison Southern High School is now lifted after another threat this morning.
The Berea Police Department posted to its Facebook page earlier:
“**PSA**
We have received another false call of a threat at Madison Southern. First Responders have arrived on scene and have confirmed the report to be false. The school was put on lockdown but has now been lifted.
Federal agencies including Homeland Security are aware of the threat calls that are occurring within the state. We will keep you updated as information is given.”
This is a developing story and will be updated when ABC36 NewsNow learns more information from authorities in both counties.
