Note: This story was last updated at 9:15 a.m.
Claxton Elementary School was evacuated Tuesday when a bomb threat was reported, and the school was searched but nothing was found, authorities said.
The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to the school after the bomb threat was reported just before noon Tuesday.
All students were evacuated and moved to Zion Baptist Church on the other side of the Claxton Volunteer Fire Department on Clinton Highway, said Tyler Mayes, director of administrative services for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.
The school was searched by a bomb detection K-9 and nothing was found, Mayes said.
On Twitter, Anderson County Schools said the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and Knox County Sheriff’s Department responded to protect the students at Zion Baptist Church. Anderson County school officials—including the director, assistant director, safety director, principal, and Claxton Elementary School staff—were also there to protect students, the district said.
“The Anderson County School system would like to thank both the Anderson County and Knox County sheriff’s departments for the quick response at Claxton School this afternoon,” the district said. “Officers covered not only our school with officers, they more importantly covered the church where our student and staff were transported. Multiple officers and district administrative staff stood along side our teachers and students during this difficult afternoon. Thanks to all who help protect our students and staff.”
Anderson County Schools said 571 families were notified of the situation by phone, and 444 families received emails. There was a software issue with the school’s notification system, and some people did not receive phone calls, the school district said. That has since been corrected, the district said.
The location of the students was posted on social media, after the children were securely protected at the church, Anderson County Schools said. Social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and television, were used to share the news, the school system said.
See a statement from Anderson County Schools on Facebook here:
See another statement here:
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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