Today both Hilltop School and Ilwaco High School were placed into lockdown by law enforcement due to a report they received. (As is our protocol, we asked the elementary schools to go into a perimeter lockout as a precaution.) The schools went into lockdown, students on walking trips in the community went to safe places to wait, and law enforcement responded quickly and efficiently.
It appears we were part of a hoax that was perpetrated in many schools in the state, but law enforcement and other sources will have to confirm or deny that. We take every threat seriously and are so thankful for the quick actions of law enforcement, for the businesses that let our kids hang out in their buildings during the incident, and for the City of Ilwaco, Ilwaco Fire, Pacific County Emergency Management and other community agencies that supported during this situation.
Thank you to all the parents who waited patiently to hear what was happening. If this threat had been realized, reunification with families would have been done at an alternate site, so thank you for not flooding the area with your presence and letting law enforcement have room to do their work. For the parents who did show up, thank you for your patience and grace as we worked through the situation.