In a school community update just before 5 p.m., Regulbuto wrote that the potential bomb threat was brought to the attention of the administration on Friday morning, the building was evacuated and first-responders called.
The decision to evacuate students from the campus was made in conjunction with the Sheffield Police Chief Eric R. Munson III.
The Police and Fire department and State Police and Arson and Bomb Unit responded to the campus. The school buildings and campus were thoroughly searched, and law enforcement declared that the buildings and campus are safe.
Sheffield Police are still investigating the incident.
Students and staff who need to pick up their own possessions or vehicles will be allowed to enter through the schools' main entrances only between 5 to 6:30 p.m. Friday evening and Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. There will not be access to the buildings from the community entrance.
"A huge thank you to the staff, first responders, Berkshire School, Massini Bus Company, our students and families for the immediate response, support and understanding as we dealt with this incident today," Regulbuto wrote. "The community came together to ensure our schools are a safe place for students and staff to learn and grow.
"Enjoy the weekend, and hug everyone a little tighter tonight."
SHEFFIELD, Mass. — A potential bomb threat at Mount Everett Regional School has forced the evacuation of the campus and early dismissal of school, according to school officials.
In an email communication to the school community shortly before 11 a.m., Superintendent of Schools Beth Regulbuto stated that the more than 600 students were headed to Berkshire School "in accordance with our Evacuation Procedures."
Students will be dismissed directly from the Berkshire School evacuation site on their regularly scheduled afternoon buses. Children in Grade 4 and under will be brought to the Sheffield Senior Center if no one is home to receive them.
"As soon as the fleet of buses can get to the Berkshire School campus, students will be put on their regular bus to head home," Regulbuto sent in a follow-up email at 11:30. "I will send a follow-up message as soon as we can confirm a dismissal time."
All after-school activities on the Sheffield campus are canceled. New Marlborough Central School, located in Mill River with Grades prekindergarten through 4, will be following its regular school day.
The public junior-senior high school has an enrollment of about 360 and the attached Undermountain Elementary School has about 290 in Grades prekindergarten through 6. Berkshire School is a private day and boarding school on Undermountain Road, less than three miles away from the high school.
Regulbuto was asking parents not to come to the campus because emergency personnel need it to remain clear to transport students to the evacuation site. Students and parents will be apprised as to when they can recover personal items from the campus.
Parents can call 1-413-229-8778, Ext. 158, in the event of an emergency. Information will be provided to the school community as it becomes available.
Mount Everett Regional is part of the Southern Berkshire Regional School District that educates children from the towns of Alford, Egremont, Monterey, Sheffield and New Marlborough.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
South County Construction Operations
LEE, Mass. — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing crews will be conducting daytime and overnight hour guardrail repair, drainage work, bridge repair, and tree trimming operations at various locations and times on I-90 eastbound and westbound during the week of Monday, April 22.
Lane closures will be in place during the construction operations and traffic will be able to travel through the work zones. The schedule for the work and lane closures will be as follows:
Otis/Blandford
Guardrail repair operations will be conducted nightly on I-90 westbound between mile marker 21.0 and mile marker 26.0 from Monday, April 22, through Thursday, April 25, from 7:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. the next morning. The work is expected to conclude by 5:30 a.m. on Friday, April 26.
Drainage work will be conducted on I-90 eastbound between mile marker 21.0 to 26.0 from Monday, April 22, through Thursday, April 25, from 7:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. the next morning. The work is expected to conclude by 5:30 a.m. on Friday, April 26.
Blandford
Bridge repair work will be conducted nightly on I-90 eastbound and westbound at mile marker 26.4 from Monday, April 22 through Thursday, April 25, from 7:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. the next morning. The work is expected to conclude by 5:30 a.m. on Friday, April 26.
Lee
Bridge repair work will be conducted daily on I-90 eastbound at mile marker 8.0 from Tuesday, April 23 through Thursday, April 25, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Russell
Tree trimming work will be conducted on I-90 westbound between mile marker 33.0 to mile marker 36.0, from Monday, April 22 through Friday, April 26, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.
Appropriate signage, law enforcement details, and messaging will be in place to guide drivers through the work area.
Drivers traveling through the affected areas should expect delays, reduce speed, and use caution.
All scheduled work is weather dependent and subject to change without notice.
Slated for the entire month of June 2024, the Designer Showcase will highlight the work of more than a dozen local and regional designers, as well as landscape architects and visual artists. click for more
The novel also explores other ethical and sensitive topics such as people-pleasing, sexual assault, and other prevalent issues in society.
click for more
Thanks to a $2 million grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott's foundation Yield Giving, CATA is aiming to expand these efforts even further.
click for more
Taylor Garabedian scored a team-high 22 points and grabbed five rebounds, and Abby Scialabba scored 16 points for the ‘Canes, who got 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists from Ashlyn Lesure. click for more
On Saturday afternoon at Lowell’s Tsongas Center, the Hurricanes will take aim at Division 5 State Championships in girls and boys basketball. click for more