Lakeridge Middle School accidentally went into lockdown Tuesday, May 13.

Lakeridge Middle School students and staff were in a state of confusion and fright Tuesday, May 13 when the school accidentally went into lockdown mode during a passing period while some students were in classrooms and others were in the common areas and cafeteria.

At 12:26 p.m., the message “Lockdown. Lights, locks, out of sight” was repeated over the loudspeaker and flashing lights went off in areas of the school. Teachers subsequently checked hallways to bring students in and locked their doors, as is protocol. The school announced that it was a false alarm at 12:28 p.m.

“During that time, students and staff were understandably alarmed. Administrators quickly investigated and worked to communicate clearly with everyone to restore calm,” Principal Kurt Schultz said in a message to families.

Mary Kay Larson, the district’s executive director of communications, said that an investigation found that the lockdown went into effect when a backpack was accidentally pressed up against the lone phone that had the lockdown button. Larson said that the triggering of a lockdown needs to be simple so that it can be done easily in the event of a real threat, but the district is planning to review measures that could potentially better weigh accessibility with mistake prevention. The lockdown button is located on a desk phone in the administrative office.

The district is reviewing the incident and working with law enforcement to assess potential changes to protocols, as well as how it can better support families. It has also received one formal complaint related to the incident and that complaint is being investigated.

“Whether a lockdown is real or false, it can be deeply frightening, and we know that this incident was upsetting for many students, staff, and families. I want to acknowledge that fear and confusion, and assure you that we are taking this matter seriously,” Schultz said.

What made the situation more difficult, the district said, was that many students were congregating in the commons area at the time, and some students and teachers were not able to reach their classrooms prior to doors locking.

“Teachers followed protocol by sweeping nearby hallways and securing their rooms, but once doors are locked during a lockdown, they cannot be reopened until it is cleared. This is a standard safety practice, but we recognize how hard it was for students who were left in the hallways,” Schultz wrote.

Further, many students in the common areas didn’t even hear the lockdown message or know what the flashing lights indicated, Larson said.

“One of the things that became clear in this cafeteria is that the commons area is very loud. A lot of the kids didn’t even hear it,” Larson said. “Part of the review is what else can we put in those common areas to make sure it’s seen and heard.”

Further, Larson said, the district is planning to provide clear instructions to students and staff on where to hide in the event of a lockdown when they are located away from classrooms.

“We are committed to learning from this incident and strengthening our safety systems so that every student feels secure and supported,” Schultz said.

Larson said that counselors are available to work with students who were distressed by the incident and that teachers keep an eye on students to determine whether they may need counseling support.

KOIN 6 first reported news of the accidental lockdown.