Students and staff safe after bomb threat at Northwest Jr. High
Northwest Jr. High students and staff were asked to return to class after no threat was found at the school.
March 23, 2023
The Iowa City Community School District received a bomb threat this morning that was isolated to Northwest Jr. High. The school initiated the District’s Emergency Response Plan, and individuals in the building were evacuated to the Coralville Recreation Center shortly after teachers acquired the notification from the district.
Northwest Jr. High staff worked closely with the Coralville Police Department, and officers searched the building. An explosive detection K9 from the University of Iowa Police Department was also called to the scene and promptly checked the school.
Superintendent Matt Degner sent an email to all district staff and families at 10:18 a.m., stating that police were on the scene and no known threat was imposed at other schools in the district.
No explosives were found, and students and staff were escorted back into the building by 11 a.m. to resume the day.
Email from Superintendent Degner:
“Dear Families and Staff,
This morning, there had been a report of a bomb threat at Northwest Junior High. The Iowa City Community School District worked closely with the Coralville Police Department. The threat was isolated to Northwest Junior High, and there was no known danger to any other schools. We have been notified by the Coralville Police Department that the building is clear, and students and staff may return to Northwest Junior High.
Emergency personnel and first responders were immediately on the scene at Northwest. We initiated the District’s Emergency Response Plan and Northwest students and staff were evacuated from the building and relocated to a designated off-campus site until notified that the building was safe to return.
Matt Degner”
