On Thursday, April 30, 2015 at approximately 9:00 a.m. Tuscola High School received a threatening email message that was allegedly from a student on campus. Students were locked in place and an evacuation to an undisclosed location was implemented.

No threatening acts have occurred and there are no injuries to students or staff. The evacuation is a precautionary measure.

Parents were sent an initial rapid notification message. A second rapid notification message has been sent to parents with directions for picking up students. The pick-up location is the Haywood County Fairgrounds. Parents are encouraged to text their students and learn the THS building that the student was in at the time of the evacuation. This will expedite the pick-up process.

Students who are not picked up will be dismissed from the Fairgrounds on buses. The bus dismissal will occur at 1:00 p.m. Special arrangements will be made for students who are not picked up and do not normally ride a bus.

Law enforcement will begin clearing the buildings. Based upon the nature of the email threat, this may take some time to assure the campus is safe.

At this time school district staff members are engaged in maintaining the safety of students during the evacuation.

The media is invited to an event update at 1:00 p.m. at the Board of Education building located at 12:30 North Main Street, Waynesville, NC 28786.

Contact: Dr. Bill Nolte, Associate Superintendent