Bomb threat last week at U-Hi turns up nothing

Officials at University High School found a possible bomb threat last week, prompting an investigation and search of the facility. Students attended school Tuesday without incident.

The threat was found in some graffiti on a bathroom stall last week. It indicated there would be a bomb in the school Tuesday.

Principal Alan Robbins sent home a letter to parents last Thursday, alerting them to the problem.

“We have been working diligently with law enforcement to complete a thorough investigation related to the threat and to follow up with all possible leads,” the letter said. “Law enforcement has not been able to verify the credibility of the threat and at this time we plan to operate school as normal on Tuesday.”

Staff members were notified of the threat and law enforcement swept the building with bomb detecting K-9 units.

There was extra security at the school Tuesday.

Melanie Rose, spokeswoman for Central Valley School District, said two K-9 units swept the school Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

“Nothing was found,” she said.

The school never went into lockdown. Rose said the day operated like a regular school day, but everyone was more vigilant than usual.

“I was very impressed with how calm everything was,” she said. “It was a normal school day.”

She said parents were given the choice to keep children home if they didn’t feel comfortable with the situation. By the end of the day, about half of the students were either absent, or their parents picked them up. No after-school activities were canceled.

“In today’s world we don’t know (if it’s a prank) so we have to take everything as a potential threat,” said Deputy Mark Gregory of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. “The check was done and everything was clear.”

The investigation is ongoing.