Search delays school at Scarselli Elementary

GARDNERVILLE RANCHOS -- The start of classes was delayed about a half-hour Thursday morning at Scarselli Elementary School when the building was searched.

A clerk who checked the school's voice-mail messages at about 7:30 a.m. Thursday reported a bomb threat to acting administrator Nancy Cauley, who called police.

Douglas County Sheriff's Office investigators and a SWAT team were at the school for about two hours. Teachers checked their classrooms for anything unusual.

"Certainly, primarily we rely on the school staff," said sheriff's Lt. Mike Biaggini. "We are not familiar with the inner workings. They know what's normal to be there, and what's not, like if a stack of boxes is usually there."

Biaggini said if the caller is found, he or she faces serious consequences.

School Superintendent John Soderman echoed Biaggini's sentiments.

"We have some good leads to who may have done this," he said. "We're believing it to be a prank, but a very serious one. It's a felony, and whatever the ultimate consequences are through the legal system, (they will be pursued.) There is nothing funny whatsoever about this."

Scarselli, which starts classes at 8:45 a.m., had few students present for the evacuation.

"We delayed the start of school until about 9:15 a.m.," she said. "The buses were held on Long Valley Road (the street the school is on). After it was safe, students gathered on the playground."

Students were sent home after the school day with flyers informing parents about the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the school at 265-2222, the sheriff at 782-9900 or Secret Witness at 586-7295.