UPDATE (11:06 AM)--Charlotte High School and Sallie Jones Elementary have been put on a soft lockdown until Punta Gorda Middle School is cleared.
A soft lockdown means school continues normally, but no one is allowed to enter the campus.
This is standard procedure when there is an incident at one of the schools.
Fox 4 will continue to update you with the latest information as we receive it.
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Punta Gorda Police are responding to a bomb threat.
A student at Punta Gorda Middle School told a teacher this morning that they had brought a bomb to school. They then advised they had only been "joking." However, in an abundance of caution, the school has been evacuated, and a school check is being conducted.
Portions of the roadway around the school have been closed.
Students are outside the school and are not in danger.
Please avoid the area until the search has been completed.
