WINDSOR

Faculty and students at Georgie D. Tyler Middle School were evacuated earlier today, Oct. 18, after a bomb threat was called in at at approximately 11:30 to 11:45 a.m.

Lynn Briggs, spokeswoman of the Isle of Wight school system, said GTMS Principal Jessica Harding told her the message was, “There is a bomb in the back [of the school].”

“We notified law enforcement (Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office) and they advised evacuating the building,” said Briggs.

Because it was not known how long before the sweep for any bomb(s) would be completed, everyone was sent to Windsor High School. Briggs noted that the school is close by and students use the same bus as the high schoolers. The seventh graders got their lunch, which had been interrupted by the call.

No trace of any kind of explosive was found by the search, and the all-clear signal was announced shortly after 3 p.m.

Soon after, Harding alerted parents so that students’ possessions at the middle school could be retrieved.