Van Buren High School students were greeted with extra security as they headed back to class Thursday morning (March 14).
Detective Jonathan Wear says all of the city's resource officers were at the high school this when students returned after Wednesday’s bomb threat and evacuation.
Students were allowed to go back into classrooms and get their things that were left behind during the evacuation.
Extra patrols will continue at the school. No arrests have been made, but the investigation is still underway.
Police and bomb-sniffing K9 units did not find a threat. The school was cleared Wednesday just after 5 p.m.
A text alert was sent to parents by the school district notifying them of the situation earlier in the afternoon. The text read: “Evacuation at VBHS due to unconfirmed threat. All kids and staff are out of the building and safe. Police are on site.”
Students were moved to a nearby track and field while school officials and police investigated. Bomb sniffing dogs were called in however, police have not found a bomb, according to superintendent Merle Dickerson.
Students who drove to school were dismissed early. Parents were allowed to pick up students at the tennis parking lot. Buses ran at the regular time for all other students.
Some students told 5NEWS they thought it was just a prank, but police and school officials took the incident very seriously.
"I know that the teachers and the faculty at this school is going to do the best to take care of our kids and make them safe," said Melissa Catron, a parent.
Parents say they found out about the threat a variety of ways, including from phone calls.
"Things was handled very well," said Patricia Brody, a grandparent. "It was breaking news everywhere. Everywhere you look, you saw it."
Students were told they were under a "code green." Many were shocked.
"Heard about stuff like that before never really thought anything like that would be here," said Remi Reeves, a 10th grader.
The Van Buren School District offers emergency and school closing text alerts, according to their website. Parents can text VBSD to 84700 to sign up.
