MISSOULA – Students are being dismissed early from Sentinel High School after being in lockdown for several hours.
The lockdown was prompted on Monday morning when a loaded gun magazine was found in a school entryway.
A message sent to parents and posted on social media by Missoula County Public Schools states that “we have completed an initial visual search of the school. At this point, we are dismissing students to allow for a more comprehensive search.”
Students were let go starting at 12:05 p.m. because MCPS officials say, “we feel dismissing students is also the best and safest solution for the school.”
The dismissal was being done in increments to help “maintain student supervision and safety,” according to MCPS.
MCPS later announced that all afternoon and evening activities have also been canceled for Monday.
Students will be transported by their normal bus routes, student personal cars, and parent pick up. Law enforcement has been supervising students loading buses and going to the parking lot.
Parents who wish to pick up their students can park at the Missoula Seventh Day Adventist Church across the street from the school at 800 South Avenue. Students will be escorted across the street to meet their parents.
Missoula Police Department staff has also been directing traffic around the school to maintain safety.
Classes and activities are scheduled to resume at their normal times on Tuesday. MCPS issued a press release Monday afternoon, which can be read below:
Sentinel-High-School-lockdown-1-14-19
