Branford High School was being evacuated as of 10 a.m. this morning, October 26, due to a bomb threat received at the building.

Buses were at the school to take students away from the building to a location off site; which police identified as Walsh Intermediate School (WIS). School staff will also clear the building. Students were sent outside to the school's stadium area and loaded on buses to be transported. 

East Haven High School also received a bomb threat this morning.

The media was notifed at 10:20 a.m. in a joint notice issued by Branford Police and Branford Public Schools (BPS) stating: "POLICE EVACUATE HIGH SCHOOL: Branford High School is evacuating due to bomb threat. All students are safe and the Branford Police Department is coordinating with the Branford School District to ensure all proper procedures are followed. Again, all students and staff are safe.

All staff and students are being transported via bus to Walsh Intermediate School (WIS). We are planning for an orderly pick-up from WIS and will convey additional information to parents of the students.

As a precaution BHS will close early today. Parents should not go to WIS until instructed to do so as an orderly and safe dismissal from WIS is essential."

BPS notified parents shortly thereafter that students would taken home by bus when dismissed from WIS. Staff and students with vehicles parked at BHS were to be notified as to when they would be able to retrieve their vehicles.

UPDATE: At 12:45 p.m. Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez notified parents the building had been determined as "safe to occupy" by Connecticut State Police working with Branford Police, following implementation of the district's "crisis action plan."  

Events at the school were cancelled for the remainder of the day. Students and staff were notified they would be able to return to retrieve personal belongings and cars left behind during evacuation, with retreival beginning at 1 p.m.

School was set to resume at the building on Friday, Oct. 27.