Bomb Threat Causes Lock Out at Stratford

Another bomb threat put Stratford School under lock out for approximately 40 minutes Tuesday afternoon, school district officials have confirmed.

This is the second bomb threat at the school in a week.

Eileen Vota, Stratford principal, sent the following email to parents: "Due to a second bomb threat written, Stratford School is under a lock out. The police are at the scene and are canvassing the building. In the interest of children’s safety, we ask the parents to refrain from coming to Stratford School at this time. I will keep you informed."

A school is under "lock out" when a threat is outside; students, faculty and staff are required to get inside and lock all exterior doors. A "lockdown" is called when the threat is close to or inside the building; students, faculty and staff are required to stay inside the classroom and follow lockdown procedures or consider self-evacuation options.

When school officials got an all clear from police, Vota sent a second email to parents: "We have ended our lock-out and our regular school activities have resumed. We thank the Garden City Police Department for their excellent assistance."

The school was evacuated a week ago, May 14, for the same reason.