Clovis West High principal says school will go on after bogus threats. ‘Our campus is safe’

Clovis West High School Principal Eric Swain vowed that classes will go on and that the school won’t give in to threats made in anonymous phone calls on Friday and again on Monday.

“I have been asked ... if we will cancel school as a result,” he said in a letter sent to the school community Monday. “We will not.”

Clovis West High and nearby Fort Washington Elementary were placed on lockdown Friday and again Monday after threatening telephone calls were made that police quickly determined were bogus.

Swain said law enforcement confirmed that “at no time did an actual, credible threat exist to the safety of students.”

Swain also said that a task force of federal, state, and local law enforcement was working to identify whoever was making the so-called “swatting” calls. Such calls are intended to cause panic, bring police, and to disrupt a campus.

“Our kids’ learning is important; and that learning happens every day at school,” said Swain. “Our campus is safe. We will continue to educate our students who are at school, and provide opportunities when students return from an absence.”

He added:

“We cannot empower people like this, nor let them undermine the emotional well-being of our students and our team.”

This story was originally published February 6, 2023 at 8:41 PM.