Anonymous phone threat results in added police at Lincoln Elementary Friday

KINGSPORT — An anonymous phone threat against Lincoln Elementary School in Kingsport City Schools resulted in an increased police presence during the school's abbreviated school day Friday. It also has resulted in a police probe of the situation, with no further information available as of press time. "We got an anonymous out-of-state phone call making a threat to the school," Assistant Superintendent Andy True said mid-afternoon Friday. "Nothing evolved from it." Because of the weather forecast of wintry weather Friday afternoon, Lincoln and other elementary schools in KCS dismissed early, at 12:30 p.m. True said the call came in about 9:45 a.m. and resulted in an increased number of law enforcement officers from the Kingsport Police Department being present at the school. Parents of Lincoln students were notified of the call. True declined to say what the threat was. "KPD is investigating. That's all I have," True said. Cpl. Brandon Arnold, KCS public information officer, said he could provide no further details as of late Friday afternoon. A new Tennessee law requires public school systems make public notices to parents and guardians of such instances that prompt involvement of law enforcement on school campus beyond the normal school resource officers. In addition, the system must make quarterly reports of such instances at school board meetings, as well as an annual report, all in the name of transparency. Following is a transcript of the phone call that went out to Lincoln parents and guardians, confirmed via a parent: "Good morning, this is Andy True with Kingsport City Schools with a message to families of students attending Lincoln Elementary School. "I wanted to make you aware that at approximately 9:45 this morning, administration at Lincoln Elementary received an anonymous phone call from an out-of-state area code threatening the school. While it is not currently known who made the call, the Kingsport Police Department immediately responded out of abundance of caution just to ensure the highest level of safety for students and staff Nothing unusual is occurring at Lincoln and students at school are safe, but KPD will maintain an increased presence at school and students are remaining inside while the anonymous threat is further investigated. "So again, this was an anonymous threat from an out-of-state phone number, but just to be safe and transparent, we wanted you to be aware and let you know that KPD was supporting and investigating the call. Operations at school are continuing and dismissal will occur using the early dismissal time we communicated earlier this morning."