Movement was restricted inside Alexandria City High School (ACHS) earlier this morning as police investigated an alleged threat related to the school building.
Around 11:30 a.m., Principal Alexander Duncan said ACHS administration and the Alexandria Police Department (APD) completed a threat assessment and determined the building is safe and the threats were unfounded.
“Out of an abundance of caution, APD will remain on site throughout the day to maintain a police presence in an effort to make students and staff feel safe,” Duncan said. “The safety of our students and staff are of utmost priority.”
The buildings were put on lockdown earlier this morning, though Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) has not shared the specifics of the threat. Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt said on Sunday that vague threats against ACPS were reported over the weekend, but no specific schools were named and the threats did not seem credible.
According to a message from Duncan:
For the safety and security of our students and staff, Alexandria City High School (ACHS) – King Street and Minnie Howard Campuses are currently on a hold status due to an alleged threat related to the school building. A hold is used when it is necessary to restrict movement within the school or building to support security posturing. During a hold, there is limited movement inside the classrooms and hallways to allow for a more controlled transition. As a result, the school day will be impacted temporarily until the hold status is lifted. The lunch schedule may also be altered to ensure all students have the opportunity to eat once the hold is lifted.
The Alexandria Police Department (APD) is currently on site to support the investigation. We appreciate the work of the APD and the additional support that APD has provided on the campus to support the ACHS team. We will provide an update once the APD has determined next steps. More details to follow.
