Oak Park-River Forest High School 'Soft Lockdown' Lifted

OAK PARK, IL — A 'soft lockdown' at Oak Park-River Forest High School Wednesday morning has been lifted as of 11:19 a.m., according to a statement from Karin Sullivan, the school's director of communications. Multiple school administrators had received threatening emails, which led to the lockdown. A thorough investigation by federal, state and local police determined the threats were not credible and normal school activity could resume.

The school will confirm that students and staff on-site are safe and then will release campers and summer school students per the following schedule:

• Students in classes that ended at 10:15 a.m. are being released via the Main Entrance.
• Students in classes that end at 12:40 p.m. will continue in class as normal and be released at 12:40 p.m. Parents may come pick up their child early. Please use the Main Entrance.
• ALL other classes, including the musical, are canceled for the rest of the day.
• Camps already in session and scheduled to end prior to this correspondence will be released.
• Camps already in session and scheduled to end after this correspondence will be released at the normal time. Parents may come pick up their child early at the entrance they usually use.
• ALL other camps, including those outdoors, later in the afternoon, etc., are canceled.

In the statement, Sullivan stressed to parents, "Please know that the safety of our staff and your children is paramount, and we appreciate your patience during this stressful situation."

Original article:

Oak Park-River Forest High School is on soft lockdown Wednesday as police investigate a threatening email. During the lockdown, no one will be allowed to enter or leave the school grounds.

According to a statement from Oak Park-River Forest High School, students and outdoor campers are currently being held in classrooms and no hall passes are permitted. The school's 10:15 a.m. and afternoon summer classes have been canceled.

Administrators advise that parents and guardians should not come to the school as children will not be released until the lockdown is lifted. Parents are able to go to Ridgeland Commons to wait for the students to be let out.

>>This is a developing story; check back for updates.