CHIMACUM — The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction confirmed that at least 40 school districts across the state received emailed threats on Wednesday.
Two North Olympic Peninsula districts, Chimacum and Crescent, were among those that received emails, all of which were found not to be credible.
“We have been in touch with the regional safety coordinators for that area, and have been told that the email threat went to 40 school district superintendents simultaneously,” said Katy Payne, executive director of communications for OSPI.
On Wednesday, Chimacum School District students were evacuated after Superintendent Scott Mauk received the email.
“Walk-throughs were done of each building and Washington State Patrol bomb squad was dispatched and law enforcement eventually cleared the facilities around 1:30 p.m., finding no credible evidence to the threat,” Jefferson County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Brett Anglin said.
Crescent School District Superintendent Dave Bingham also received the email but did not evacuate the school, according to Clallam County Sheriff’s Brian King.
A press release issued by Crescent said that the email threat wound up in Bingham’s junk email and he was made aware of it by another superintendent along the I-5 corridor.
“Each district responded in alignment with its own operating procedures and the regional safety coordinators are coordinating and collaborating with local law enforcement,” Payne said.
A total list of affected schools has not been released.
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Reporter Ken Park can be reached at kpark@peninsuladailynews.com
