LATHAM— Colonie police are investigating a suspicious package that was discovered near the entrance of Shaker High School, leading to a two-hour delay for the entire district.
Authorities were alerted to the presence of the package in the early morning on Monday, Nov. 7. Traffic is being diverted away form the school to Our Lady of Assumption on Watervliet-Shaker Road. The district issued the following statement earlier this morning:
“All North Colonie schools are running on a two-hour delay, due to a suspicious package found in front of Shaker High School. This two-hour delay applies to all schools, including elementary, private and parochial schools.
While Colonie Police are investigating, all Shaker Junior High and Shaker High School buses and traffic, including student cars, are being diverted to Our Lady of Assumption, since bus pick-up for those schools has already occurred. We will send another update as soon as we have one.”
A little after 8 a.m., the school announced that the district was still on a two-hour delay schedule.
“The district is still running on a two-hour delay,” read the statement issued by the district. “SJHS and SHS students have either been dropped off from the buses at the junior high or Blue Creek. The junior high school building has been deemed safe. Police are still present. The high school is still being swept by K9 units. Elementary school bus pick-up is still on a two-hour delay.”
Around 9 a.m., authorities told parents that the high school would be cleared soon.
Around 9:15 a.m., the high school had been cleared.
“After a thorough sweep of the entire building, Shaker High School and the surrounding campus has been deemed safe by K9 units from the NYS Police, the city of Troy Police Department, and the Albany County Sheriff’s Department. The district will continue to operate on a two-hour delay. Students who were dropped off at the junior high school or Blue Creek Elementary will walk to the junior high or high school, escorted by faculty or staff. While homeroom will begin at approximately 9:30am, no students will be marked tardy today. Students who are driving to school or will be dropped off by parents can do so as of right now, following the two-hour delay schedule. Elementary bus pick-up will continue to run on a two-hour delay schedule,” said a statement issued by the school.