Squalicum High School went into precautionary lockdown Tuesday morning, March 28, following social media images “that may have shown a weapon on or near campus,” Principal Miguel Perez said in a message to families, staff and students.
At 9:50 a.m. the school went into lockdown, and Northern Heights Elementary, went into a lockout while the district worked with the Bellingham Police Department to determine if there was a threat.
In Bellingham Public Schools, a lockdown occurs when there is an immediate hazard or threat to the campus. Students are locked into classrooms and stay quiet and out of sight of any windows. In a lockout, the threat is off campus. Students and staff remain indoors with exterior doors locked.
At 10:15 a.m. the lockdown at the high school shifted to a lockout before being fully lifted at 10:30 a.m.
Police confirmed to the district there was no immediate threat and no weapon on campus, and school continued as normal.