Lockout at Van Cortlandtville School Caused by 'Unusual Questions'

Students and staff went into lockout mode at Van Cortlandtville Elementary School Thursday afternoon after an unidentified man buzzed the front entrance and reportedly asked "unusual questions," officials told Patch.

The incident was reported at around 12:30 p.m. Thursday. State police troopers were called in to investigate as a precaution.

"We go by our protocol which is to identify the person and why they are there and in this case [the man] was asking unusual questions," Lakeland Central School District spokesperson James VanDevelde said. 

The person in question raised suspicion among staff members and was not allowed into the school. He left the school property within five minutes, VanDevelde said. It was not clear what kind of questions the man had been asking.

School officials said police were called in to investigation. The school went into lockout mode initially, which means that no visitor is allowed into the school. That was later changed to lockdown – visitors are allowed into the school only with permission when buzzed in – which is normal school procedure. 

State police troopers in Cortlandt confirmed the incident, but had no further details, other than to say that "everyone is fine."

VanDeVelde said everyone at the school followed the procedure and there was no danger to the children or staff. 

A police officer was stationed at the school during dismissal time this afternoon.