Emergency Safety Drill Held At Concord High School Wednesday

CONCORD, NH — Concord High School will be placed on lockdown on Wednesday for an emergency safety drill, according to Principal Timothy Herbert.

The purpose of the drill, he said, was to ensure students and staff were familiar with the school emergency procedures if there was a potential threat at the school.

There have been several incidents at Concord High School in recent years, including an intruder in the school in October 2023. Moise Ndutiye, a former student and felon with a lengthy criminal history, was arrested on trespass and resisting charges. There was also a hoax gun threat incident a little more than a year ago, which placed the school in lockdown. A threat against Concord High School was also made back in April 2023. There have also been both state and national threat hoaxes against schools during the past couple of years. A threat against the school was posted on Snapchat about six years ago.

A practice drill was also held in November 2023.

“Please reassure your child that this is a precautionary measure, and our staff is trained to guide them through the process calmly and efficiently,” Herbert told parents in an email.

Herbert said administrators announced the drill a few minutes before previous ones so students would be prepared and not caught off guard by the lockdown. Students will be told in the morning about the drill but will not be told exactly when it will occur as part of the school’s practice progression.

“This is to help our entire school community prepare for a moment where they may need to respond quickly to an emergency situation,” he said.

Parents of students will be alerted via the ParentSquare app at the start and end of the drill.

“It is important to emphasize to your child that this is a practice scenario and not a cause for alarm,” Herbert said. “We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in maintaining a safe environment for everyone.”

Anyone with questions about the drill can call administrators at CHS at 603-225-0800.

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