Bomb Threat Prompts Soft Lockdown at Old Quarry Middle School

An unsubstantiated bomb threat written on a bathroom wall prompted a 30-minute soft lockdown at Old Quarry Middle School on Tuesday.

Old Quarry Principal Bill Caron said school and law enforcement officials have determined there is no credible threat, despite a message that indicated the school would be bombed on Wednesday, March 13.

To ensure student safety, school officials implemented a soft lockdown in which students were required to stay in their classrooms while hallways and bathrooms were searched. At dismissal time, students were instructed to leave their backpacks outside of their lockers, Caron said.

All after-school activities were canceled Tuesday, along with before-school activities Wednesday.

Once all students had cleared the building, the Cook County Bomb Squad canine units did an extensive search of the building, backpacks, lockers and classrooms, and ultimately determined there was no threat, Caron said.

As a precautionary measure, Old Quarry will increase hallway supervision and may check bags that are brought to school Wednesday morning. There will be additional police presence as students arrive in the morning, officials said.

District 113A Superintendent Susan Birkenmaier said students will not be held responsible for any homework missed due to leaving their backpacks at school.

Administrators will continue to investigate who is responsible for making the threat.

"Our students and staff responded appropriately to this situation and we will continue to put the safety of all the Old Quarry Middle School students and staff in the forefront of our actions," Caron wrote in a letter to parents.

Officials said the incident was isolated to Old Quarry, and did not affect River Valley or Oakwood schools.

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