Madras High School evacuated after active threat reported

Published 10:46 am Thursday, November 30, 2023

Madras High School students were evacuated Thursday morning to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds after an active threat directed toward Madras High School was called into the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office notified the Jefferson County School District and responded to the threat along with Oregon State Police and the Madras Police Department.

Madras High School went into lockdown just before 8:30, while Buff and Madras elementary schools were placed in a secure status. According to Jefferson County School District Public Information Officer Joey Prechtl, that secure status was later lifted.

Students were evacuated from the high school around 10:30 a.m., and parents were instructed to head directly to the fairgrounds to retrieve their children. Prechtl said most of the students were picked up by their families, and those who remained were sent back to Madras High School after law enforcement gave the all clear.

“All students at the school were accounted for, whether they returned to their families or returned to the school,” Prechtl told The Bulletin. Earlier that day, Prechtl said the evacuation was conducted out of “an abundance of caution.”

Following the events of the day, the district released this message on its website:

“We want to thank our law enforcement partners for their quick and thorough response to the situation at Madras High School. We also want to thank our staff, students, and families for the calm and orderly response. Students and staff did a fantastic job in following our safety protocols… Afterschool programming and athletics will be held at Madras High School this afternoon, and classes will begin at their regularly scheduled time on Friday. Trained staff from our Tri-County Response Team will be at Madras High tomorrow to support students and staff who would like to process further.”