Two Waltham Schools Evacuated Tuesday

WALTHAM, MA -- Emergency response crews responded to a bomb threat at a school in Waltham on Tuesday morning, one of several threats called into area schools.

At 9:56 a.m., a bomb threat was received at the Fitzgerald Elementary School. The school’s principal called 9-1-1 and evacuated the school, with staff and students walking to their site evacuation location - which is St. Jude’s Church on Main Street.

Later, students were bused to the McDevitt Middle School, where lunch was provided to students and staff.

According to Paul Maiorano, assistant superintendent of Waltham Public Schools, while busing the students to McDevitt, a situation occurred at McDevitt where smoke was detected in an elevator room. McDevitt students were sent to St. Mary’s Church on School Street, and Fitzgerald students were re-routed to the Kennedy Middle School. Shortly after the McDevitt students and staff arrived at St. Mary’s, the all clear was called at McDevitt and the students and staff returned to McDevitt, said Maiorano.

“Fitzgerald parents were encouraged to pick up their children at Kennedy Middle School, said Maiorano in an email to the school community. “Students who were not able to be picked up were provided lunch and stayed with their teachers until the end of the day. Waltham Police, Fire and school department personnel did an initial search of the Fitzgerald building. Additionally, the State Police provided a bomb sniffing dog and did a thorough sweep of the building. The building has been deemed safe.”

All Waltham schools will be open on Wednesday.