Westbury School District Responds To Internet Threat; Suspicious Person Report Prompts Ridgefield Schools Lockdown
RIDGEFIELD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- In the days following the mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., that left 27 people dead -- including 20 children -- area schools have reported threats made against their schools.
Schools in Ridgefield, Conn, were put on lockdown Monday morning on a report of a suspicious and possibly armed person in the area.
Schools were placed on lockdown and some buses were diverted to other schools around 9 a.m. after the suspicious person was reportedly seen near the Branchville train station.
Branchville students who were temporarily taken to East Ridge were being transferred back to Branchville, the district said.
After an extensive police search, no dangerous activity was discovered, according to a message posted on the district's website.
Police gave the all-clear a few hours later.
Over the weekend, the Westbury Middle School was the subject of an internet threat, according to Interim Superintendent of Schools Mary A. Lagnado. She issued the following statement on Monday:
"Over the weekend the Westbury School District was notified of an internet threat to the Middle School, which we have taken very seriously. We have been in close contact with the Board of Education Trustees and the Middle School Principal and therefore we are taking every precaution including working with the local authorities to locate and apprehend the person or persons who made this threat. The Middle School is on a lockout mode and all afterschool and evening activities are cancelled until further notice.
Additionally, my administrative staff and I have visited not only the Middle School, but all of the schools in the district to review and ensure that security and safety procedures are in place and to reassure the staff and students of our commitment to their well-being."
All after school activities have been canceled for the week, as stated on the school district's website.
