Police Give All Clear, Lockout was Lifted at Bethlehem CSD

An hour after the lockout was put in place, the staff at the Bethlehem Central School District informed parents that police swept all schools, and the school had been given an "all clear"

This is a developing story, and we'll have more info once it's posted, but in the meantime, we're being told that all kids and staff are safe.

Emails and text messages from the Bethlehem Central School District alerted parents just after 10 a.m. on Wednesday that the school is currently in a "lockout" while the Bethlehem police investigate a bomb threat sent to BCSD and other schools in the area.

Lockouts are put in place to "secure the school or building from a potential threat taking place outside, such as law enforcement activity in the neighborhood."

During a lockout, access to the building will be restricted, but there may be controlled limited movement.

We don't know how many schools went on lockdown, but according to the BCSD, there were "others in the area".

This was the text sent around 10:15 Wednesday morning:

All BC schools are currently in a LOCKOUT while the Bethlehem Police Dept investigates a bomb threat sent to BCSD and other school districts in NYS. All students and staff are safe. Schools will HOLD IN PLACE with instruction continuing while the investigation continues. 

This was the email sent to parents of students in the BCSD on Wednesday:

BCSD All BC schools are currently in a LOCKOUT while the Bethlehem Police Department investigates a bomb threat sent to the district and many other schools in NYS. The FBI has told the district it is aware and investigating these threats as "swatting," an activity meant to draw law enforcement resources to various locations. All students and staff are safe. Schools will HOLD IN PLACE with instruction continuing while the investigation continues. The police department is working with school staff to sweep the schools for anything suspicious. Updates will continue to be sent to parents and staff.

If we get any more information, we'll pass it along to you.