Wootton High School assistant principal Stephanie Labbe sent a message to the school community providing an update on the bomb threat that caused Wootton to be in Shelter-in-Place for approximately 33 minutes on Tuesday, April 23rd until police deemed the threat non-credible. Einstein High School was also evacuated on Tuesday due to a bomb threat that was also found to be non-credible by police. The full message can be seen below:
“Dear Wootton High School Community,
We hope this letter finds you well. We want to update you on the serious incident that occurred at school today, Tuesday, April 23. Montgomery County Police (MCPD) reported they received a phone call with a bomb threat to Wootton High School. In response, we, along with the prompt assistance of MCPD, immediately took action to ensure everyone’s safety. Montgomery County Police promptly responded to our school and began a search of our school grounds. In collaboration with MCPD and the Montgomery County Public Schools Department of Systemwide Safety and Emergency Management, the decision was made to put our school in Shelter in Place to give law enforcement time to assess the credibility of the threat. School administrators then communicated with the community using the Remind app. We were in a Shelter in Place for approximately thirty-three minutes until MCPD determined that this was a non-credible threat.
We would like to acknowledge that this response was different from what our community has experienced in the past with bomb threats. This was due to the nature of the threat, the information shared and how it was communicated to police. We had students remain in their fourth-period class through Advisory because of police presence on campus. We also enacted our parent reunification process for parents wishing to pick up their children. Students went to lunch at normal time and resumed their normal class schedule for the remainder of the day. These measures were taken to ensure the safety of our students and staff, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time.
We understand these events may be unsettling, but we want to reassure you that we are doing everything in our power to keep our students safe. Our commitment to student safety is unwavering, and we will continue to work closely with the Montgomery County Police and Montgomery County Public Schools Safety and Security Office. We want to express our gratitude for your understanding and support during this challenging time. It is unfortunate that another event has taken place at Wootton High School. School counselors, administrators, and staff will be available to meet with students as needed.
Thank you to Wootton staff and students, Montgomery County Police, MCPS school security staff, and school system leaders for your support and leadership throughout this event.
Should you have any questions, you may reach me at [email protected]
Sincerely,
Stephanie Labbe
Assistant Principal
Thomas S. Wootton High School”