Caesar Rodney High School students had a break from classes Oct. 3 when a bomb threat was called in shortly before 10 a.m.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lou Ann Carlson said the police are investigating the incident.
Principal Elvina Knight said when the call came in to the secretary, she was notified and they immediately put the school safety plan into effect. This led to the building being evacuated and the Delaware State Police coming in with bomb-sniffing dogs.
After the building was searched, Knight said the all clear was given.
“Then – and only then – do we allow the students and staff back in,” she said.
Students were out of classes for approximately an hour and a half before returning for lunch and a modified afternoon class schedule, Carlson said.
Knight said they were fortunate that the dogs were in the area so there wasn’t as long a delay as if they had to travel from upstate. One unit was local and two others came from outside the area.
A numbers of schools in Delaware received calls today and some got calls last week, she said Oct. 3, adding the administration always take such calls very seriously.
Another area of concern is to make sure that students and parents don’t contact each other through cell phones.
“Any type of communication device has potential of setting off a bomb,” Knight said.
Once a call comes through, the faculty only use landlines and don’t even use walkie-talkies to communicate, she added.
During the search of the building, students waited in the football stadium and bleachers by the softball and field hockey fields. Knight said they make sure to put the students as far as possible from the school.
Staff always re-evaluates the school’s plan after an incident like this, she said, adding that she was very pleased with the patience and cooperation of the staff and students throughout.
The state police even complimented school officials with how the situation was handled, Knight added.
Email Jayne Gest at jayne.gest@doverpost.com
