Level 3 school lockdown a false alarm

CLYDE — Clyde Elementary School went on a Level 3 Lockdown on Thursday, however, school administrators said it was a false alarm. At approximately 12:15 p.m., school staff initiated safety protocols after receiving a false Level 3 Lockdown alert. The district shared a press release, written by superintendent Lucas Messer, on social media. Messer assured there was no legitimate emergency at any point, and all safety measures were followed appropriately for staff and student safety. He stated the lockdown was a result of an error. "We understand the importance of clear and timely communication during emergencies," Messer said. "We are currently re-evaluating our emergency communication procedures to ensure that future situations, whether real or false, are communicated as effectively and transparently as possible to prevent any unnecessary confusion or worry." In the release, the district did not identify the threat, but a social media post from the district shared, "There was a misdial from an in-district line that inadvertently sent an emergency alert to Clyde Elementary School." At the time of the post, the building was cleared. This is the second time this year the district sent its staff and students on a lockdown, though the previous one dealt with a real incident that happened off school grounds. In January, Clyde Elementary School and McPherson Middle School were both under a Level 1 Lockdown due to a situation in the community on Norris Drive.