Schools in Maine's Topsham area and in Blue Hill canceled classes on Monday following separate bomb threats received through voice messages. Law enforcement agencies conducted thorough searches of the buildings and later determined the threats were not credible, allowing for the resumption of normal school activities on Tuesday.
The incidents disrupted the school day for thousands of students and prompted a significant response from local and county police departments. Officials are now investigating the origins of the calls, with at least one incident linked to a broader pattern of hoax threats occurring nationwide.
Key Takeaways
- Maine School Administrative District (MSAD) 75 closed all its schools on Monday after receiving bomb threats.
- George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill also closed due to a similar threatening call.
- Law enforcement searched all affected school buildings and found no suspicious devices.
- Officials believe the threats were part of a hoax, with the Blue Hill call linked to a nationwide trend.
- All schools are scheduled to reopen on their normal schedules on Tuesday.
Early Morning Alert Triggers Shutdown
The situation in Maine School Administrative District (MSAD) 75 began to unfold in the early hours of Monday morning. According to Superintendent Heidi O'Leary, targeted voice messages were delivered to four of the district's schools at approximately 1 a.m. The caller claimed that bombs had been placed in each school within the district.
The messages went undiscovered for several hours. A school principal found the voicemails at 5:15 a.m. and immediately alerted Superintendent O'Leary, who then contacted the Sagadahoc County Dispatch to mobilize law enforcement.
Initially, at around 5:50 a.m., the district announced a two-hour delay. This was intended to give authorities time to conduct safety sweeps of the school buildings. However, as the morning progressed, it became apparent that more time was needed for a comprehensive search.
"This decision was driven by our commitment to safety; we simply would not open our doors until our law enforcement partners had the time necessary to ensure every building was secure," O'Leary stated.
Shortly before 7:55 a.m., the decision was made to cancel school for the entire day. All extracurricular activities and school-based events scheduled for Monday were also canceled to ensure student and staff safety.
About MSAD 75
Maine School Administrative District 75 serves approximately 20,000 residents across four communities in the state's Midcoast area: Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell, and Topsham. The district includes seven schools, from elementary to high school level.
Multi-Agency Law Enforcement Response
Multiple law enforcement agencies coordinated to respond to the threats. The Topsham Police Department, the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office worked together to search every facility within MSAD 75.
By 10:30 a.m., all school buildings had been thoroughly inspected and declared safe. Authorities found no evidence of explosive devices or any other suspicious items on school grounds.
Topsham Police Chief Marc Hagan confirmed that investigators believe the incident was a hoax. "After finding nothing suspicious we advised school officials that we believed this was a hoax and not credible," he said. The chief also noted the difficulty in tracing the call, stating, "The number that contacted the school was blocked but we will investigate further to determine if it is possible to trace anything further."
A Disturbing National Trend
Hoax threats, often referred to as "swatting," have become a significant problem for schools and public institutions across the country. These incidents often involve computer-generated calls or anonymous tips designed to trigger a large-scale emergency response, causing disruption and fear while wasting valuable law enforcement resources.
Separate Threat in Blue Hill
As events unfolded in the Topsham area, another school in a different part of the state faced a similar situation. George Stevens Academy, a town academy in Blue Hill, also received a threatening call on Monday morning.
The Hancock County Sheriff's Office responded to the report. As a precautionary measure, school staff closed the building and dismissed students for the day. Investigators quickly determined that the call was consistent with a nationwide hoax involving computer-generated messages.
Officials from the Hancock County Sheriff's Office assured the public that there was no ongoing threat and that they were working to identify the source of the call. George Stevens Academy serves students from several communities on the Blue Hill Peninsula.
Community Impact and Moving Forward
The closures on Monday caused significant disruption for families across two different regions of Maine. The decision to cancel classes, while based on an abundance of caution, forced parents to make last-minute arrangements for their children.
Superintendent O'Leary expressed gratitude for the community's understanding and the swift action of law enforcement.
"We thank our parents and the community for their patience and support during this evolving situation," O'Leary said. "The district would like to extend its sincere gratitude to our law enforcement partners for their quick and efficient response."
With all buildings cleared, both MSAD 75 and George Stevens Academy announced that schools would reopen and operate on their normal schedules on Tuesday. The investigations into the sources of the threatening calls are ongoing.