The Bethlehem Middle School was evacuated this afternoon because of a bomb threat, but has since been cleared by police.
District spokesman Matt Leon told The Spotlight that a note was found just before 2 p.m. inside of a bathroom that indicated a bomb was in the middle school.
We immediately called police and they went through the school, Leon said. `About an hour later, before 3, the school was cleared by police and the buses began running again.`
Students were held outside of the building while police conducted a bomb sweep of the building and its facilities. As a result, buses were detained and are currently running off schedule.
District officials have sent out notices to parents through an e-mail alert, and have warned that some children may be arriving home late as a result of the incident today.
`Many bus routes include a high school, middle school run and then an elementary school run. Because of the incident at the Middle School, many buses are running 20 minutes or more behind schedule this afternoon,` the district wrote on its Web site. `Parents and community members should be aware that the district and the police department take these incidents very seriously.`
It is a Class E felony for anyone to make a false bomb threat against a New York State school. Police and district officials are urging anyone with information about who might be responsible to contact either the Bethlehem Police Department at 439-9973, or a school administrator.
For updates on this story return to www.spotlightnews.com or read the Wednesday, May 6, print edition of The Spotlight.
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