From staff reports
A threatening note found in the Clarion Area Elementary school led to the evacuation of the building Monday morning, Clarion Borough Police Chief Bill Peck said.
The note was discovered at about 10:30 a.m. by an elementary student, who notified school officials, Peck said. The building was evacuated shortly thereafter, and elementary students were taken to the district’s high school building.
A dog specializing in detecting explosives was brought in from state police in Clearfield, but no explosives devices or proof of a legitimate threat were found, according to Peck.
Roger Walter, the elementary school’s principal, said the students’ parents were made aware of the incident via the school’s automated phone system both during and after the evacuation.
“Phone calls from parents were pretty steady all day,” Walter said.
Walter added that the incident is a first in his 15-year tenure.
Students were allowed to return to the elementary school at about 2:45 p.m., Peck said.
Clarion Borough police is leading the investigation.
State police in Clarion, Clarion University police and Clarion Fire Department also responded to the incident.