South Bay Schools Remain Open Despite Threat at LAUSD

All of the schools in the South Bay will remain open Tuesday despite the bomb threat that shut down schools at nearby LAUSD, the district’s superintendent said.

In an email to parents and staff, Superintendent Patricia Escalante said there will be heightened police on campus but schools at Hermosa Beach City School District will remain open.

“If something changes, you will receive another email, text, and/or phone call,” she said in a statement.

Nearby Manhattan Beach will also be open. The threat was specific to Los Angeles Unified and did not mention any Manhattan Beach schools, MBUSD spokeswoman Carolyn E. Seaton said.

In a message sent to parents and staff, Superintendent Michael D. Matthews said MBUSD remains cautious in light of the recent threats received, but schools will remain open.

“You all know that I have been very cautious with the threats we have received, and I would inform you if I believed there was any need to close or lock down,” he said in an email. “We are open for what I hope will be a normal, enjoyable, and highly educational school day.”

Mira Costa High School was under lockdown Monday because of a bomb threat left on the school’s voicemail. It was the third time the school was targetted in the past week.

On Friday, Mira Costa High School and Pennekamp Elementary were closed for the day “due to a specific threat.” Authorities later that day reported that “no suspicious activity exists” at either campus and said all city schools would be open today, with a continued police presence.

On Dec. 7, a “non-specific” threat prompted authorities to evacuate Mira Costa High School and cancel classes for the day, police said. A search of the campus turned up nothing dangerous, however.

According to media reports, schools in New York City received a similar bomb threat as LAUSD but deemed the threat not credible and are remaining open. Former Los Angeles police Chief William Bratton, who is now the police commissioner in New York, said the LAUSD may have overreacted by canceling classes.

The closures came on a day when finals were scheduled at high schools, leading some students to speculate that a student fearing exams was involved, according to broadcast reports.

Other South Bay schools remaining open:

• In Torrance, officials reported that schools in that city would be open.
• All Hawthorne schools will be open, except for Cimarron Elementary School, which is part of LAUSD, Hawthorne police reported.
• In Gardena, only LAUSD schools will be closed. Other campuses will be open.
• All Palos Verdes Unified School District schools will be open.