UPDATE 11/17
Officials at Gateway Charter High School say they have decided to allow parents to pick up students early today out of an abundance of caution.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation of unsubstantiated non-specific threats to the school.
Officials also say they will go to a fully-mobile model tomorrow as the investigation continues.
They say additional police presence at the school is currently a distraction for students.
Officials will continue to coordinate with law enforcement and monitor the situation.
UPDATE 11/16:
Gateway Charter High School was pleased to welcome students back to class today.
"In an abundance of caution and to help students feel more secure, we have additional police presence at school along with counselors available for anyone who needs extra support today," school officials said in a statement. "The safety, security and well-being of our students and staff remains our highest priority and we take any threat seriously. We are not able to discuss further details and refer any additional questions to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office."
The Lee County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate threats that forced a lockdown of the school last week.
"Threats, of any kind, are not taken lightly. The safety and security of Lee County students, school staff, and our educational facilities is our top priority. We will devote any and all resources to address a threat in our schools. That is exactly what we did last Friday at Gateway Charter High School," a sheriff's office statement said.
"The resources and assets that were devoted to the school threat can appear alarming. Our main goal was to assess the situation and address any possible threats. This included keeping the students sheltered in place until the scene was deemed safe and they could be released to a parent."
"Our investigators are conducting a thorough investigation. This includes interviewing several subjects that were on scene. Our investigation remains active and we will issue additional information as it becomes available."
UPDATE 2:30PM
Students are currently being released from the school. Deputies and school personnel are advising that parents must drive up to the campus to pick up their children and should have ID and filled out reunification form.
Parents are told they have to get in their cars and then drive around to pick up their children. Must have ID and filled out a reunification form.
- Parents must complete a "reunification" form with identification prior to picking up their students.
- If you have a middle schooler/s only (grades 6th-8th), please report to the exterior parking lot- gym doors (west side).
- If you have a high schooler/s only (grades 9th-12th), please report to the cafeteria doors (north side).
- If you have students in both schools (siblings), please report to the cafeteria doors as well (north side). They will reunify siblings and you will pick them up together through this exit.
Gateway Charter High School students are currently on lockdown. Lee County Sheriff's units are currently on scene and assessing the situation, which is fluid at this time. All students are in their classrooms.
Two people have been taken into custody. Police are still on the scene investigating but have not found any credible threat.
Lee County Sheriff's Office has advised the school against running afternoon bus routes. This scene is still active but as soon as the scene has been cleared deputies and/or school personnel will guide the parents to campus.
When students are released, parents must pick their students up at the following locations:
Parents are told they have to get in their cars and then drive around to pick up their children. Must have ID and filled out a reunification form.
- Parents must complete a "reunification" form with identification prior to picking up their students.
- If you have a middle schooler/s only (grades 6th-8th), please report to the exterior parking lot- gym doors (west side).
- If you have a high schooler/s only (grades 9th-12th), please report to the cafeteria doors (north side).
- If you have students in both schools (siblings), please report to the cafeteria doors as well (north side). They will reunify siblings and you will pick them up together through this exit.
LIVE LOOK: GATEWAY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL LOCKDOWN
The Lee County Sheriff's Office advised the school to go on a "full" lockdown. No one will be able to enter or leave the building. Anyone that comes to the school will not be granted access by the police.
There is a staging area for parents outside the school.
Earlier a message was sent to the parents stating that there were threats made by text which put the Gateway High School on lock-in.
Principal Amber Jensen says law enforcement was immediately contacted and students are safely in their classrooms. The threat is being taken seriously and there is an increased police presence at the school. They will remain on campus until the situation is resolved.
