The NYPD confirmed that a local preschool received a call from unknown person last Friday who threatened to “shoot up the school.” There are no arrests and the investigation is ongoing. The preschool director asked that I not identify the school by name.

But the incident may be more widespread. The schools have been communicating with each other one by one, partly through the network of parents, and have learned that at least two other local preschools have gotten similar calls in the last week. However, the NYPD could not confirm that with me.

A restricted, anonymous caller contacted the school by phone and gave a direct threat in a short call. 911 was called immediately. The school has a lockdown protocol, and immediately moved the children to the school’s most secure location until the police could give the all-clear. Classes not in the building at the time were sent to an emergency evacuation site as part of its emergency protocol.

It is just so sad that schools have to be prepared for this sort of thing…