USD 253 Emporia and Emporia Police have deemed a recent threat not credible following a roughly three-hour lockdown and investigation at three district buildings Tuesday.
USD 253 Emporia Community Relations Director Lyndel Landgren says in a news release the lockdowns were implemented out of an “abundance of caution” Tuesday after the district received an unverified threat. Emporia High School was placed into a level two lockdown while Emporia Middle School and the USD 253 Transitions building were placed into level-one lockdowns shortly before 1 pm.
According to Landgren, students’ possessions were searched by administrators and district security officers under the supervision of local law enforcement during the lockdown in accordance with district guidelines. Following further investigation, it was deemed the threat was not credible and students were dismissed from their respective buildings on schedule with no disruption to extracurricular activities.
Emporia Police and Lyon County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted in the investigation. There were reports that Flint Hills Technical College also went into lockdown as a result of the situation at Emporia High, however, staff at FHTC told KVOE News they simply locked the doors to the outside public and students were free to leave at any time.
4 pm Tuesday: Buildings dismissing following roughly three hour lockdown at trio of USD 253 school buildings Tuesday
USD 253 Emporia has dismissed students from three buildings after a roughly three-hour lockdown Tuesday.
Students began to exit the buildings on schedule following a level two lockdown, meaning students cannot leave their classrooms, at Emporia High School along with level one lockdowns at Emporia Middle School and USD 253 Transitions. Emporia Police Captain Ray Mattas says the lockdowns followed reports of an “unverified threat against students” at some point Tuesday.
A large police presence was visible at Emporia High through the remainder of the day. Mattas says police have not “verified” a threat at this time, however, KVOE News has received several reports that students had their bags searched throughout the lockdown.
Students were also searched prior to being allowed to exit the building Tuesday. All extracurricular activities are on as scheduled.
USD 253 administrators are not commenting on the situation and KVOE’s calls to the USD 253 Community Relations Office have gone unreturned. We will have more updates as they become available on KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media.
2:22 pm Tuesday: UPDATE: ‘Unverified threat against students’ leads to lockdowns at trio of USD 253 district buildings
More details are being announced as to the cause of a trio of lockdowns at USD 253 Emporia School buildings Tuesday afternoon.
According to Emporia Police Captain Ray Mattas, officers received an “unverified threat against students” at Emporia High School at some point Tuesday. The school then went into a level two lockdown while Emporia Middle School and the USD 253 Transitions building both went into level one lockdowns.
Mattas reiterated there is as of yet “no verified” threat against students at any buildings. Parents are being asked to remain home until they are notified by the district that the lockdowns have been lifted.
KVOE received reports of lockdowns from district patrons shortly before 1 pm Tuesday. It has also been reported that Flint Hills Technical College was under a lockdown, however, FHTC staff have told KVOE News they locked the front doors due to the situation across the street, but students are free to leave at anytime.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more updates as they become available.
2:00 pm Tuesday: Lockdowns confirmed at trio of USD 253 school buildings
USD 253 Emporia has confirmed lockdowns are underway at three district buildings Tuesday afternoon.
The lockdowns are in place at Emporia High School, Emporia Middle School and the USD 253 Transitions building. EHS is under a level two lockdown while EMS and Transitions are under a level one lockdown.
The district is not commenting on the cause of the lockdown and says more information will be released once the lockdown has been lifted.
KVOE has also received reports that Flint Hills Technical College is on lockdown as a result of the situation at the high school. FHTC staff have told KVOE News the college has “locked its doors to the outside public,” however, students are free to leave the building at this time.
Stay with KVOE, KVOE social media and KVOE.com for more information as it becomes available.
1:16 pm Tuesday:
USD 253 Emporia Public Schools is reportedly in the midst of a lockdown of at least three school buildings.
KVOE has received several phone calls from district patrons reporting a trio of lockdowns are currently underway at Emporia High School, Emporia Middle School and the USD 253 Transitions Building. According to reports, the high school is allegedly in a level two lockdown with both transitions and the middle school in a level one lockdown.
KVOE News has reached out to both the district and Emporia Police for further details. Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more updates as they become available.
