UPDATE: Lockdowns to be lifted shortly, students to exit in controlled fashion

UPDATE @ 2:55 p.m.: Police say a lockdown will be lifted at two west end Belleville schools and students will be exiting “in a controlled fashion” shortly.

Belleville Police Staff Sergeant Al Portt says all buses are staging on Harder Drive at Wright Ave and all parents are directed to attend at the Salvation Army on Bridge Street West to pick up their kids.

The lockdown was put in place at Centennial Secondary School on Palmer Road, just before 1:00 p.m. and then at nearby Sir John A. Macdonald School a short time later, with Portt telling Quinte News that they responded after being contacted about a potential bomb threat at the high school.

Portt says officers have swept the school and no injuries have been reported.

More details to come.

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UPDATE @ 2:50 p.m.: There is still no update as to why two west end Belleville schools are on lockdown this afternoon.

The precaution was put in place at Centennial Secondary School on Palmer Road, just before 1:00 p.m. and then at nearby Sir John A. Macdonald School a short time later.

School board officials say all of the students are safe, but haven’t released why the security measures have been put in place, with Belleville Police telling Quinte News they are “sweeping” the high school.

Quinte News’s Amanda Smith is on the scene and says a large section near Palmer Road and Harder Drive is blocked off and the investigation is ongoing.

We’ll have more details as they become available.

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Emergency vehicles are parked an Palmer Road, just down the street from Belleville’s Centennial Secondary School, which was put under lockdown protocol on June 6, 2019. (Photo: Amanda Smith / Quinte News)

Belleville’s Centennial Secondary School is under a lockdown protocol this hour.

Hastings Prince Edward School Board spokesperson Kerry Donnell tells Quinte News that measure was put in place around 12:45 p.m., but didn’t release why.

No other details have been confirmed by police, who are at the scene of the Palmer Road facility, along with members of the Belleville Fire Department.

Donnell says a lockdown means that all students and staff are in their classrooms or offices, with the lights off, blinds drawn, and doors locked and closed.

Sir John A Macdonald school nearby has also been put in lockdown at the request of police, who tell Quinte News they are “sweeping the school”.

A tweet from the school board just after 1:00 p.m. says “everyone is safe in both schools”.

@S_J_A_M is going into lockdown now, at the request of police. It is in close proximity to @csschargers. All are safe at both schools. More will be shared as known through this account

— Hast. and Pr. Ed.DSB (@HPEschools) June 6, 2019