Long Beach High lifts lockdown after threat called in to school, authorities say
Long Beach police block the entrance to Long Beach High School Tuesday morning after after a threat was called in to the school. Credit: Jim Staubitser
Nassau County police have given the "all clear" at Long Beach High School, lifting a lockdown Wednesday morning after someone called in a threat to the school, school officials said.
The school, in Lido Beach, was placed under lockdown following the threat just before 8 a.m., while Nassau County police searched the building to make sure there was no danger inside, Long Beach Superintendent Jennifer Gallagher said in a letter to parents.
After the lockdown was lifted, students were allowed to access their cellphones to text or call parents.
School officials said they would "lead students in "a few calming activities to settle everyone down," Gallagher said in an update to parents. The school planned to resume regular class periods.
"The police now feel that it is safe to resume normal activities at the high school, but with police presence for the remainder of the day," the update said.
Students, staff and parents will be required to present photo ID at the gate to access the school. Police told school officials regularly scheduled activities at other schools can continue. Police said there was no threat to other elementary or middle schools in the district, and drop-off and pickup of students at those schools were not affected.
School officials said there would be increased police presence at the high school throughout the day Wednesday.
Nassau police said the investigation was ongoing, but did not release any details of the threat.
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
