Knoxville School District 202 sent students home around 11:30 Monday morning after administration got word of a bomb threat in Knoxville High School.
Superintendent Steve Wilder says the threat was extremely vague, but the district didn’t want to risk the safety of students and made the decision to not just evacuate the high school but the entire district.
Wilder tells WGIL the district enacted their crisis plan right away with students safety being their first concern.
“I worked with school administration to implement our crisis plan, and, as a precaution, we took two steps,” Wilder said. “One, which was to evacuate the high school, and the second step was to dismiss school early, and get all students home where they are safe and sound, while the proper authorities are now on site, and helping us make sure everything is safe.”
Wilder would not comment on what the threat said or how it was received.
He said at this time an investigation is ongoing, and they don’t have any suspects.
All athletic activities at Knoxville Schools are canceled for the rest of the day.
UPDATE:
Wilder announced at 4pm Monday that the all-clear was given, and that no suspicious items were found after a bomb-sniffing dog was found. The school will be open from 5-6pm Monday so that students and faculty can retrieve personal belongings. Local police received help from officials from Peoria and other agencies, along with Knoxville Police.
