MAIZE, Kansas – An email threatening the safety of students and staff led to the evacuation of Maize South High School Wednesday. Parents were made aware of the situation through the district’s automated system, which now includes phone calls, emails and text messages.
Wichita police officers stood guard outside Maize High School Wednesday morning, investigating a threat of violence against students and staff.
“At first I thought it was a prank,” said Jessica Domnick, a junior at Maize South. “A bomb threat in Kansas at the Maize School District doesn't make a lot of sense.”
The threat came in the form of an email around 10:30 to the school’s principal.
“She felt that the threat was serious enough that we needed to contact law enforcement and make sure our kids were safe,” said Karen McDermott, a spokesperson for USD 266.
The students were immediately moved to nearby Maize South Middle School as the district put its automated system to notify parents into action.
“It's the quickest way to get information out,” Domnick said. “You’ve got to let parents know what's going on with their kids and text message is the fastest way to let them know.”
Jessica’s mother isn’t signed up for text message alerts, but she did receive multiple e-mails and phone calls updating her about the threat at her daughter’s school.
“It's very helpful,” said Margie Domnick. “I don't even have a phone at my home. It's really nice that technology has caught up with how busy everybody is and they can get a hold of you where you are.”
Police and bomb-sniffing dogs didn’t find anything suspicious at the school. Officials continue to investigate who sent the threatening email. Classes will resume Thursday.
