By Dan Karpiel

The Surveyor

UPDATE: According to communication released from TSD the BHS building has been cleared by Larimer County Sheriff’s Office and is safe for occupation. Students may return to the school between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. today to retrieve any items left there. All athletics and activities will be held at their regularly scheduled time.

Friday morning Dec. 6, at approximately 8:30 a.m. students and faculty at Berthoud High School were told, via the school’s Public Address system, to immediately evacuate the building. All students and faculty have been reported safe and accounted for. Some initial reports indicated the evacuation could be a result of a gas leak as some students, according to a source, reported smelling odd odors similar to “rotten eggs” in the building and adjacent areas.

At approximately 9 a.m., the Thompson School District (TSD) confirmed the evacuation was the result of a bomb threat and not a gas leak or similar environmental issue.

According to a source, the evacuation proceeded promptly and without incident. Students who had their keys in their immediate possession and had a personal vehicle on-site were allowed to leave the school area via their own vehicle. The same source confirmed that many students opted to leave with other students via automobile. Students who did not have access to a motor vehicle were told to walk northwest across 8^th Street to Ivy Stockwell Elementary School.

TSD Public Information Office Michael Hausmann said the delay between the evacuation and when parents were notified was to ensure the reunification process at the elementary school was properly organized, “We have to make sure we are ready to go so when parents show up things run smoothly, it’s already nerve-wracking, we want to minimize the chaos and anxiety of an already stressful situation.”

Reports from sources indicate that, as a result of the rapid evacuation of the building and surrounding grounds, many students exited without their keys, cell phones, backpacks, and other personal belongings.

Anyone with info can call Investigator Justin Atwood @ 970-498-5143

Correspondence from the Thompson School District read as follows:

Good Morning, Berthoud High School Community:

This is an important message from Thompson School District.

Due to a bomb threat that is affecting the Berthoud High School campus, all students and staff are currently being evacuated from the building.  All students, staff and visitors are safe – This action is being taken as a precaution to help ensure safety as law enforcement personnel complete an investigation at the campus.

Students who walk to school or who have driven to the campus today will be released and allowed to depart in a normal fashion. Students who do not walk to school or who do not have transportation at the school are currently being bussed to Ivy Stockwell Elementary School, which is located at 175 5th Street in Berthoud.  At this location, students will be reunified with parents and/or guardians.  Parents and guardians should bring a valid photo ID card in order to proceed with the reunification process.

Thank you very much for your patience and support.

As of this time, no information is available as to the nature of the threat. Larimer County Sheriffs Office and the Thompson School District will provide additional information as it becomes available.

The Surveyor will update this story as more information is provided.