ELK GROVE, Calif. — A middle school in Elk Grove was temporarily on lockdown after a student received a text message about a bomb threat at the school, officials said.
The precautionary lockdown at Joseph Kerr Middle School was lifted as a controlled release of students gets underway, according to Elk Grove Police Department
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office assisted with the investigation. A spokesperson for the sheriff's office said the school checked clear, but bomb dogs also went through the school as a precaution.
Officials said all students and staff are safe, and officers will be in the area to help with traffic.
Around 4:45 p.m., deputies said they started a controlled release of students from campus. Students who take the bus will start boarding soon and parents will be notified of pickup procedures.
The Elk Grove Unified School District sent the following letter, in part, to parents after the lockdown.
Dear Joseph Kerr Parents/Guardians: This afternoon, a student reported receiving a bomb threat via text message. School officials immediately notified and coordinated with law enforcement to investigate. As a precautionary measure, the school is currently on lockdown. We will keep you informed on the status of this incident. Elk Grove Police Department is assisting with traffic control, as the lockdown has extended past dismissal time. The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. We take all threats seriously and we encourage our students, staff, parents and community that “If you see something, or know something, say something.” The District’s Safety and Security department will work in partnership with local law enforcement to monitor the campus and ensure that all safety precautions are being met to maintain student and staff safety. Because these actions are highly disruptive to our school and community, parents are asked to remind your student that this type of threat can result in criminal charges. We are sharing this information with you as part of our ongoing efforts to keep you informed about incidents that affect our campus.
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