Update: Sag Harbor Schools Reopen After Evacuation

Update 1:11 p.m.: Sag Harbor Village Police Chief Austin McGuire confirmed Monday afternoon that the anonymous threat called in to Pierson Middle and High School was a bomb threat, and Katy Graves, the district superintendent, said it came in the form of a recorded message.

Chief McGuire declined to comment further on the message, saying the matter is still under investigation.

Firefighters from the Sag Harbor Fire Department responded with Sag Harbor Village police but kept their trucks on standby at headquarters along with the Sag Harbor Volunteer Ambulance Corps. School administrators assisted the officers and the firefighters in checking the building.

“It's unfortunate that someone did call in a bomb threat, but I can say that all the parts worked well together,” Chief McGuire said. “We followed the response plan by the book, and it went really well.”

A recorded bomb threat was made to the John M. Marshall Elementary School in East Hampton on March 16, resulting in the evacuation of the school, but nothing dangerous was found upon an inspection. On that day, a school in Portland, Me., received the same recorded threat from the same phone number. 

Update, 12:25 p.m.: Pierson Middle and High School and Sag Harbor Elementary School have reopened after an emergency evacuation at 10:47 a.m. on Monday. 

Police searched the building following an anonymous threat and gave the okay for students to return to the buildings shortly after noon.  

Katy Graves, the district superintendent, commended the staff for "their professionalism and our students for their cooperation and good behavior," which, she said, "enabled the evacuation process to go smoothly." 

Original, 11:57 a.m.: Pierson Middle and High School and Sag Harbor Elementary School were evacuated Monday morning following an anonymous threat that was called into Pierson's main office at about 10:46 a.m.

“The police were immediately contacted and are currently on site conducting an investigation,” Katy Graves, the district's superintendent, said in a statement issued at 11:47 a.m.

The nature of the threat was not immediately clear. Ms. Graves said police are conducting a search of the building. “All students and staff are safe and we request that parents do not come to the building at this time,” Ms. Graves said.

Check back for more information as it becomes available.