Update: Students Were Evacuated After Note Indicated a Bomb Threat

Update: 2:30 p.m.

Park Middle School was evacuated earlier today due to a note that was found indicating a bomb might be located in an area of the school, officials said.

According to Police Chief Brian Mahoney, the Scotch Plains police department received a phone call that the school had found a note stating that there was a bomb in a specific section of the building. After consulting with Superintendent Dr. Margaret Hayes and Park Middle personnel, the police department decided to evacuate the students to nearby School One due to the cold weather.

Mahoney added that the students did an excellent job walking over to School One and were very organized and calm throughout the evacuation.

Once the department knew the students were safe and warm they began investigating the area that the note indicated might have a bomb.

“We checked the immediate area where the threat was located and it appeared to most likely be a hoax,” Mahoney said.

He stated that since they made the decision to evacuate students both the Scotch Plains Police Department K-9 Unit and Union County K-9 Unit took the necessary precautions to check the rest of the building.

After the units were sure the building was safe they admitted the children to return and carry on with the rest of the school day.

"The note most likely came from in the building, possibly a student,” Mahoney said.

The investigation as to where the note came from is ongoing.

Update: 1:55 p.m.

Students have returned to Park Middle School following an evacuation earlier this afternoon.

The building is safe and secure and the students will have a regular dismissal followed by afternoon activites, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, Sally Rowland said.

Rowland added that the principal will send home a letter in regards to the evacuation and the police chief will be issuing a press release.


Original Story

At approximately 12:30 p.m. parents were notified that Park Middle School was evacuated to School One.

According to Sally Rowland, Assistant to the Superintendent, all children are safe and there is no need for concern.

Parents were notified of the evacuation via the Honeywell Alert System.

Rowland informed Patch that more information will be available shortly.

The following alert was sent out to parents:

Alert Name:

Park Evacuation

Alert Type:

High Importance

Complete Message:

Park Middle School Students have been moved to School One. Sudents are safe and there is no cause for alarm. Further information will be sent later.

School Name:

Park Middle School

Sent By:

Sally Rowland