Spectrum Community School dismissed students early after the school received a bomb threat Tuesday morning, but according to the Greater Victoria School District the school will reopen Wednesday.
Around 10:20 a.m. Saanich police responded to a potential bomb threat at the school. Students and staff evacuated the building and were released to go home. Both St. Joesph’s Elementary School and Ecole Marigold, two neighbouring schools, were under hold and secure throughout the day.
Investigators were at the school Tuesday afternoon, working through the early stages of their investigation and trying to figure out how the threat was received and determine the validity, said Sgt. Damian Kowalewich from the Saanich Police Department during a media briefing outside the school.
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Kowalewich said specialty officers from the explosion detection unit were inside, along with a police dog who’s able to detect incendiary devices.
“It’s a significant event for not only the students, staff and parents — if indeed it was a student who is responsible for this they’d still be subject to consequences, which could potentially fall under the Criminal Code, or alternatively measures through community programs,” said Kowalewich.
According to a letter to the parents from SD61, police deemed the school was safe, although the investigation is ongoing.
“Police conducted a thorough search of the school and area and nothing of concern was found. Police continue to conduct their investigation and if students have any information regarding this threat, they can provide it directly to Spectrum administrators or report it anonymously through the erase reporting tool,” stated the letter.
The school will have support available for students in the counselling department if required.
UPDATE (11:20 a.m.) – Spectrum students are being dismissed early today after the school received a threat. Police are currently at the school assessing the threat. For more details visit: https://t.co/ieU87s1g22
— Greater Victoria SD (@sd61schools) March 10, 2020
