BILLERICA -- About 1,600 students moved through a metal detector, and no weapons were found.
Police and school officials reported no major problems as Billerica Memorial High School students returned to school yesterday morning after a threatening message indicating a student would bring a gun into school yesterday was found on Friday.
"Everything went smoothly, aside from some little glitches," said Billerica Police Capt. Daniel Doyle. "The kids were all cooperative and no weapons were found."
As for the person who wrote the threatening message, Doyle said the investigation is ongoing.
The extra security was in response to a threatening note found Friday in a bathroom in the school. The note named no one in particular, but contained a threat that someone planned to bring a gun into school and shoot people yesterday.
Doyle said there will be an increased police presence in the school throughout the week, but the extent of that presence is still being discussed. "We've got to make it safe and still keep the school open," he said.
Principal Kevin Soraghan wrote on the school's Web site, "Since we take all threats seriously, the school administration and Billerica Police Department worked together with STARS (School Threat Assessment and Response System) a regional police response team to develop a plan for Monday."
Over the weekend, police worked with the School Threat Assessment Team from the North East Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council, considering the threat serious enough to warrant action, according to police.
Four police dogs swept the school over the weekend for any signs of explosives or firearms. None were found. Police then secured the building so no one could get into the school until yesterday morning, following a two-hour snow delay. Police were present in the school throughout the day. Parents were notified of the situation Sunday night via the town's reverse-911 system. Students were told not to bring backpacks or wear bulky coats or sweaters.
Although Superintendent of Schools Anthony Serio told police to prohibit media on school grounds, students being dropped off by parents at the Town Hall parking lot were eager to talk.
Freshman Slade Fernades clutched his school books as he nervously watched the police officers that blocked traffic going into Billerica Memorial High School yesterday.
"I'm really scared," said Fernades, who moved from India to Billerica barely a month ago.
Sophomore James Barry was simply annoyed. "I hurt my leg, so I've been carrying a backpack," Barry said, balancing an armful of books. "I think this is just crazy. Somebody thought they'd be funny and this is what happens.'' Amanda Alan, a junior, said, "At first I thought it was just a joke because it was written on a bathroom wall. Now that I see the police, I'm freaked out." Sophomore Patrick Aker was also "a little freaked" by having a police presence at his high school.
Mike Burke, a freshman, described the whole incident as "ridiculous."
Police have declined to comment on whether they have a suspect. As she dropped her son off for school, parent Linda Frederick said she's worried about the threat because this type of incident is unusual for Billerica. "But I suspect it's a prank," she said.
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