MCDOWELL COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – All McDowell County Schools were placed under lockdown earlier today at the direction of local 911 officials as a precautionary safety measure, according to McDowell County Schools.
School officials said students and staff remained safe and were following established safety procedures during the lockdown. During a lockdown, students cannot be released from school buildings, and families were asked not to come to school campuses.
An update issued by the school system said campuses will begin releasing from lockdown status as they are cleared by law enforcement.
“Per the approval of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Department, schools will begin releasing from lockdown status when campuses are cleared by law enforcement,” the school system said. “We are working closely with law enforcement and will update families as each school is cleared and released.”
According to the latest update, lockdowns at Sandy River Middle School and River View High School have been lifted, and instruction at those schools will continue as normal.
School officials said the safety of students and staff remains their top priority and encouraged families to follow official school system pages, live feeds, and notifications through the McDowell County Schools app for accurate updates as they become available.
“The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority,” the statement said. “Thank you for your patience and cooperation.”
