MIDLAND, Texas — UPDATE (4:15 p.m. May 9): TLCA Midland district administration says all Midland campus classes and activities are canceled Friday because of the stressful events that took place Thursday.
The closure will allow additional time to validate security initiatives as students and staff finish out the school year.
"We believe these protocols are in the best interest of securing the safety for our students, staff and families," the district said.
Campus will reopen Monday, May 13 for the final week of school.
UPDATE (11 a.m. May 9): Parents and guardians can now pick students up with photo identification. Elementary school students are at the junior high campus, district administration says.
All campuses are secure.
Thursday morning, campus administration noticed several items missing and discovered an unidentified man gained access to the elementary building Wednesday night.
Out of an abundance of caution, TLCA administration said, police were called.
"We immediately moved the elementary students to the middle school building and placed all campuses on secure status. Police are currently doing a sweep of the elementary building. The middle school and high schools are on "secure" as a precautionary measure. No one is allowed in or out of campuses until secure status is lifted."
More updates will be posted as they become available from district administration.
ORIGINAL STORY: A note to parents on the Texas Leadership Charter Academy (TLCA) Midland Thursday morning says there is a "possible situation at the district's elementary school campus.
Law enforcement is on site and all students are accounted for and safe. As a precaution, the district's elementary school students have been moved to the junior high building, which has been placed on "secure" status with administrators and staff are on site.
SECURE is called when there is a threat or hazard outside of the school building. Whether it's because of violence or criminal activity in the immediate neighborhood, or a dangerous animal on the playground, calling SECURE uses the security of the physical facility to act as protection, the district says.
TLCA Midland says it will notify parents as soon as they are able to pick students up.
This is a developing story. More information will be posted as it becomes available from TLCA.
