In a news release shared Jan. 29, the Georgetown Police Department outlined some of the details of the noncredible bomb threat that led to the closure of Georgetown High School.
The release states that at about 7:08 a.m., a male caller contacted the department, claiming that he had placed explosives on the campus.
The specifics
Based on this information, the department and Georgetown ISD administrators chose to evacuate the school and search the campus for items that seemed out of the ordinary. Three such items were found and were cleared by the Cedar Park Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Austin Police Department Bomb Squad, according to the release, with the latter specifically investigating and clearing an item believed to be a high school student's robotics project.
"There is misinformation being circulated that explosives were located," the release states. "This is not factual. No explosive devices were located, and we appreciate the assistance of the aforementioned partner agencies in helping determine that fact."
A closer look
Regarding communication about the bomb threat to the school community, Superintendent Devin Padavil shared in a post to the district's communication platform ParentSquare that notifications were set to send according to parents' selected preferences, instead of immediately. This would have resulted in many families receiving the notification as part of the platform's evening digest.
The district's communications team realized this around 8:04 a.m., when they learned they would have to send the message directly, Padavil wrote.
"Notifications didn't go to parents until 8:21 a.m., which is entirely too late," Padavil wrote. "This is simply not acceptable, and I will work with our staff to use this experience to ensure our systems help inform parents right away."
What's next?
GPD shared that the department is working with the Texas Rangers to investigate the origin of the threat and that the person responsible will be held criminally accountable.
Updated 12:54 p.m. Jan. 29
The bomb threat at Georgetown High School made early Jan. 29 was not credible, the Georgetown Police Department shared via Facebook.
"Georgetown High School has been cleared," an update to a previous post reads. "No explosive devices were located. The Georgetown Police Department will be issuing a press release shortly with further details."
Per the district, classes remain canceled for the rest of the day at GHS, but after-school activities will continue as scheduled.
Published 12:40 p.m. Jan. 29
Georgetown ISD announced via social media Jan. 29 that classes at Georgetown High School would be canceled for the rest of the day, as an investigation into a bomb threat is underway.
What's happening
Per GISD communications, the Georgetown Police Department received a call early Jan. 29 indicating a threat at the high school. GISD and GPD asked parents, students and community members to avoid the area.
"We are currently working a bomb threat investigation at Georgetown High School," the department announced in a Facebook post. "No one is currently allowed access to Georgetown High School until the investigation is concluded. We will post more information as it becomes available. Please avoid the area if possible."
Superintendent Devin Padavil said in a 9:41 a.m. post to the district's communication platform ParentSquare that the district was unsure of how long the investigation will take.
In this post, he wrote students who had already arrived at school were relocated to safe locations including the Future Ready Complex, Agriculture Barn and Recreation Center.
GISD Spokesperson Logan Reuland said the district has communicated reunification procedures to GHS parents. A 10:29 a.m. post to ParentSquare said all students were being taken to the Future Ready Complex for reunification.
Additionally, students will only be released to custodial parents or emergency contacts listings in Skyward, and everyone must show their ID to check out their student.
CTE classes at the Future Ready Complex have also been canceled to facilitate reunification, according to the post.
What else?
The district is planning on a normal school day Jan. 30 at GHS, pending results of the investigation, Reuland said.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
