I am writing to update you on the investigation into the threatening note that was found on campus today.
After safely dismissing all students at 11 a.m. today, the University Park Police Department, with help from other law enforcement angencies, used bomb-sniffing dogs to comb the campus. The police determined that the campus is safe and secure, and that the note was a hoax.
With that information, HPISD and HPHS leaders have decided to resume with normal school hours tomorrow, Feb. 27. We are asking all students to enter the building through either the front doors on Emerson or through the student entrance on Westchester. All other entrances to the school will be locked tomorrow morning, and faculty, staff, and campus security are instructed to be especially vigilant in the days ahead.
We do not yet know who left the note, or if it is connected to the three notes left last month, but we are continuing to follow through on information coming from our students, faculty members and parents. We ask you to continue to let us know if you have any new information. As you know, we take these threats to our students, employees and campus very seriously.
I want to thank the entire HPHS staff and all our students for the calm manner in which they handled the situation. I also want to encourage parents to talk with their children about how these threats undermine the academic, extracurricular, and safety goals of our school.
HPISD informed parents, students and staff of the early dismissal and related updates through its emergency text-messaging system, email, and on the district website. Text messages were sent to more than 7,600 recipients today. If you would like to sign up for the texting system,
please follow these instructions.
Dear HPISD Parents & Staff,