Bomb scare leads to Georgetown school evacuation

By Stephen Tait
Staff Writer

March 06, 2008 08:11 am

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GEORGETOWN — School officials evacuated Georgetown Middle/High School for three hours yesterday morning after receiving a bomb threat, but by mid-morning the school was declared secure and students were back in class.

Officer Derek Jones, the school resource officer, said a note was found in a girls bathroom at the school, which is shared by middle and high school students. The note said there was a bomb and also included the word "today." Jones did not release the full text.

He said the situation is still under investigation but "we do have some suspects in mind." He would not elaborate.

"Absolutely it is serious," Jones said. "Especially in this day and age. We have to take this seriously, absolutely."

The note was found at about 7:15 a.m., and local public safety officials, along with a State Police bomb squad, responded. Students were evacuated from the school and walked to Perley Elementary nearby.

Principal Peter Lucia said it took about three hours for the police and dogs to search the school. By 10 a.m., students were back in class or in the cafeteria for lunch.

The students "were great," Lucia said. "They were very calm, very cooperative, which is essential when you are in a crisis situation or a potential crisis situation."

Lucia said many parents still picked up students after class resumed because it started to rain heavily during the evacuation. Those who had wet clothes called parents for dry clothes.