Dover Area Middle School Evacuated After Bomb Threat and Suspicious Package

Dover Area Middle School students were evacuated on Thursday, March 12, 2026, following a bomb threat discovered the previous day and the subsequent discovery of a suspicious package. Students and staff were safely relocated to Dover Area High School.

Timeline of Events

March 11, 2026: Dover Area parents were notified of a potential bomb threat found written on a bathroom wall at the middle school shortly before dismissal. The York County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit and the Northern York County Regional Police Department conducted a thorough sweep of the building and it was deemed safe for students to return to school. Authorities warned of increased police presence and random sweeps of the middle school. York Daily Record

March 12, 2026: At approximately 9:30 a.m., parents received notification that students and staff were moved to Dover Area High School due to an unplanned evacuation stemming from a suspicious package. York Daily Record, Fox43

The suspicious package was identified as a backpack containing a pair of shoes and posed no threat. Fox43 Law enforcement, including the Northern York County Regional Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, and the York County Sheriff’s Office, responded and cleared the building. Fox43

Middle school students were dismissed from the high school at 12:30 p.m. York Daily Record, Fox43

Investigation and Response

Brad Perkins, Dover Area School District Director of Public Safety, stated that the evacuation was initiated because the suspicious backpack was in a location beyond officials’ reach. Fox43 The investigation is ongoing, and the building will be cleared again by law enforcement before students return. Fox43

District officials and York County Office of Emergency Management spokesman Ted Czech were not immediately available for comment. York Daily Record

This is a developing story.