April 23, 2024

Lenox dismisses early Friday over threatening note

By CARTER ECKL

Pictured is the front entrance to Lenox High School. The school received a threatening note Friday and kept students on lockdown until it was determined to be safe, eventually dismissing students early. It marked the second time in a week an area school had such an incident, after Southwest Valley evacuated students Wednesday because of a possible bomb threat. Investigators later determined the bomb threat at Southwest Valley was false. (Contributed photo)

LENOX – Lenox High School dismissed its students early Friday after the school received a threatening letter.

The school was placed on a level 2 lockdown and nobody was allowed in or out of the building until the students were released at 1 p.m.

Taylor County Sheriff’s Office was still investigating the threat Friday afternoon, but Lenox principal Mike Still said he did not believe it was a credible threat.

“We do not feel that this threat was a credible threat. At the same time, we don’t know who wrote the note so that investigation continues,” said Still.

Students were dismissed a few at a time with the last students leaving the high school around 1:30 p.m.

“We have our processes and procedures on paper, but it becomes a different scenario when you have to enact them,” said Still.

Still admitted there were things the school can work on. In addition, teachers and staff were debriefed by Taylor County Sheriff’s Office after the day.

“At the end of the school day, we did have a debrief session with our staff and then debriefed with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office to answer any questions and address some issues we need to be better at,” said Still.

The threat Friday capped a suspicious week for local schools after a bomb threat closed Southwest Valley High School and Corning Elementary school Wednesday afternoon.

Students were released early while the Adams County Sheriff’s Office cleared the school.

After investigation, the bomb threat was later deemed unfounded.

“There was not a threat made toward Southwest Valley Schools,” read a statement from Adams county Sheriff’s Office. “This information was not learned until the schools were evacuated and dismissed for the day.”

The two incidents are unrelated.

No further information about the ongoing investigation at Lenox High School is currently available.