OHIO — Amherst Exempted Village Schools placed all district facilities on a “level 1” lockdown Thursday after Marion L. Steele High School and Nord Middle School received a bomb threat, according to school officials.
District officials said the Amherst Police Department and Amherst Fire Department responded to the schools and were managing the situation.
School officials announced that Steele High School and Nord Middle School students would be evacuated in accordance with district safety protocols. Authorities asked parents and community members to keep phone lines, parking lots and nearby streets clear while emergency personnel worked at the scene.
“For the safety of students and staff, we are asking parents and community members to please keep phone lines, parking lots and streets clear,” the district said in a statement. “More information will be provided as soon as it is available as we secure the situation. Student safety is our top priority.”
The district also stated that safety procedures had been implemented across all facilities and warned that phone calls may not be answered as staff focused on student and employee safety.
In an update issued around 11 a.m., school officials said Amherst police and the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office were conducting perimeter and building sweeps to determine whether the threat was credible.
Officials said Steele High School and Nord Middle School students had been evacuated to a safe location under the supervision of administrators and staff members. Parents were told they would receive additional instructions and updates once authorities cleared the situation.
No injuries were reported, and officials had not released additional details about the source of the threat as of Thursday morning.
