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Schools

Suspicious Phone Call Led to Monday's Evacuation, Lockdown of Schools

Three high schools and four middle schools were evacuated Monday.

UPDATE (8:25 p.m.)—Three middle schools and three high schools in the Bel Air-Fallston area received a suspicious phone call Monday morning, multiple officials confirmed. Four of the buildings were evacuated.  that did not receive the call were also evacuated as a precaution.

 received the first call at approximately 11:10 a.m., followed by  and  at 11:22 a.m., Harford County Public Schools Manager of Communications Teri Kranefeld said. The final call was placed to  and , which share a building, and  at 11:34 a.m.

Patterson Mill was the only building receiving a call that “locked down” instead of evacuating. Kranefeld said after Monday’s meeting that those decisions are made by school administrators.

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“It’s up to the principal,” she said. “They work in conjunction with their school resource officer and local law enforcement agencies to determine the best course of action.”

"Our Critical Incident Plan was followed and all schools were either placed on a lockdown or evacuated," Kranefeld wrote in an email to Patch. "At this time, all buildings have been cleared by law enforcement and students have returned safely to their classrooms. This does not affect after school activities."

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Fallston Middle School was initially reported by multiple officials to have received a call, too, but Kranefeld later confirmed that it did not.

After Monday’s meeting, Kranefeld said the details of the call are still being investigated by local law enforcement agencies.

The ,  and Maryland State Police all responded to the incident.

"Kids were evacuated. There was a search for suspicious packages," said Monica Worrell, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office. "This was one call that went to multiple schools. ... All schools received the same call."

Worrell and Kranefeld did not specify whether the call was a recording. Nor did they say whether it was placed by a male or female.

Worrell said the schools were searched for packages and bomb-sniffing dogs were made available, but she did not say if they were used.

Hundreds of Bel Air students were sitting in the Bobcat Stadium bleachers until about 12:25 p.m. A voice on the stadium loudspeaker was heard telling students to return to period four classes. The students were completely out of the stadium on their way back to class by 12:30 p.m.

Kranefeld also said after Monday’s board meeting that schools will operate on a normal schedule Tuesday.

“The law enforcement agencies cleared all buildings and deemed them safe for instruction,” she said. “We will be open tomorrow and ready.”

This was the second evacuation this month after a that turned out to be a box of art supplies.

The following is the transcript of an  placed by  Manager of Communications Kranefeld:

"This is Teri Kranefeld for Harford County Public Schools with an important message. The following schools received suspicious calls today: Bel Air Middle and High, Fallston Middle and High, Patterson Mill Middle/High and Southampton Middle. All schools received the same call. All schools were immediately evacuated as a precaution. Law enforcement is investigating the situation and reports to all buildings will be cleared and students returned safely to class shortly. Any further updates will be reported through this phone system. Thank you for your time and attention."

CORRECTION: Due to incorrect reports from multiple officials, the article previously stated that Fallston Middle School and Patterson Middle and High School were evacuated.

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