Update: Students, staff cleared to return to Modesto High after bomb threat

10:20 a.m. update: Modesto police have cleared Modesto High School’s campus of any threats. The campus was deemed safe for students and staff to return to, which they were asked to do by 11 a.m. Students who are unable to return to campus due to lack of transportation will have their absence excused, said Linda Mumma Solorio, spokeswoman for Modesto City Schools.

9:18 a.m. update: Modesto police are still sweeping the school for explosives. Officers are going room to room, checking “every building, every space,” according to MPD spokesperson Sharon Bear. A K-9 unit and a drone are helping with the sweep.

The bomb threat was received via an anonymous tip directly to a Modesto High School social media account early Thursday morning, said Mumma Solorio.

At about 7:20 a.m., an email was sent out to staff and families. While most students start their day at about 8:30 a.m., some have a zero period at 7:30 a.m.

Students that were taken to school by their parents, walked or rode their bikes were told to go home. Students that took the bus were taken to Mark Twain Junior High School, where they are expected to stay until MPD gave the ‘all-clear.’ Once MPD determines the campus is safe, students will be able to return to campus, said Mumma Solorio.

“Before the school day began, we advised students to either return home or go to a safe location,” said Mumma Solorio. “We will send out an update as soon as it is safe for students to return to school.”

8:18 a.m. update: Students are being told to go home.

Original story: Students and staff are being kept off campus at Modesto High as police investigate a claim that “there may be an explosive on site,” the school notified families Thursday morning.

“Out of an abundance of caution the school has been cleared and students will not be allowed on campus until it has been deemed safe,” Modesto Police Department spokesperson Sharon Bear told The Bee.

The schools message to parents continued, “While we don’t currently know whether the threat is credible, we have contacted the Modesto Police Department and they are investigating.”

Zero-period classes were canceled.

Students who were picked up by school buses are being taken to Mark Twain Junior High until police clear Modesto High for students and staff to return, according to the notification by Principal Phuc Pham-Goulart.