Princeton Public Schools Superintendent Steve Cochrane praised the efforts of the Princeton Police Department regarding the threat that developed on Dec. 6 at Princeton High School.
“I want to once again thank our police for their immediate response and ongoing support as we addressed the situation today,” Cochrane said in the statement. “I also want to thank our staff and students for their cooperation and [keeping] calm during this disruption to their day.”
Cochrane reported earlier in the school day that all students and staff were safe, while Princeton High School was in a Shelter-In-Place procedure throughout the day.
The district received an unconfirmed threat at 11:09 a.m.
“We were called there for a general threat for a threat that was made by phone to the high school this morning,” said a Princeton Police Department official.
All district schools were placed in a Shelter-In-Place procedure as a precaution.
A Shelter-In-Place is not a lockdown procedure.
A lockdown procedure is when no one is able to enter or leave the facility. In a situation with a Shelter-In-Place, students and faculty are not allowed to leave a specific place. Usually the room they are currently residing in at the time.
The Princeton Police Department remained on site at the high school, and provided a presence at the other district schools until the end of the school day, Cochrane said.
As an added precaution, all district schools had remained in a Shelter-In-Place for the remainder of the school day.
Princeton High School students were released at 3 p.m., so middle and high school students were able take buses together at the conclusion of the school day.
All after school and evening activities throughout the district did go on as scheduled, following approval from the Princeton Police Department.
Cocrane stated that the district is working with the police department to investigate the credibility of the threat.
“I am grateful for the support of our police and the calm and cooperation of our students and staff,” Cocrane said in the statement.
Princeton Public Schools Spokeswoman Elizabeth Collier said that the district will provide more details when updates are received.