UPDATE/CORRECTION, 11:33 A.M.: Roaring Fork High School in Carbondale will have an early release today at 1:40 p.m. due to the on/off school safety protocols Wednesday caused by unconfirmed statewide threats to schools. The usual Wednesday early release time for other RFSD schools in Glenwood Springs, Carbondale and Basalt will be the same as normal.

UPDATE, 10:35 a.m.: All safety protocols in the Glenwood Springs schools, as well as Garfield Re-2 schools, have now been lifted, according to the latest alert from the two local school districts. Safety protocols remain in place for Carbondale schools.

According to a Facebook post from the Glenwood Springs Police Department, local law enforcement agencies have been responding to schools throughout Pitkin and Garfield counties Wednesday morning for unconfirmed threats and reports of shots fired at local schools. Officers are going through schools to ensure the safety of all students and staff, and they are on secured status at this time, the post states.

“There are also reports of additional ‘swatting calls’ in Boulder County and other parts of the state. Parents are advised to not come to the school to pick up your children at this time. We will continue to investigate the source of these calls but there has been no confirmation of any threat to local schools at this time.”

Swatting is a criminal harassment tactic or hoax, often using the internet, to deceive emergency services into responding to a nonexistent incident.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Emergency Management and the State Emergency Operations Center are also currently monitoring several school lockdowns across Colorado along with other state agencies. “There have been no requests for state assistance at this time,” the DHSEM reports in its own Facebook post.

Local agencies are in charge of providing updates to their responses.

Garfield Re-2 Schools also posted, “All schools are currently being released from SECURE status. The valley law enforcement issue has been determined to no longer present an issue to our district.

Specifically this issue was in response to a threat originating in Roaring Fork School District that could have impacted Garfield Re-2. The safety of your students is the top priority and Garfield Re-2 went to secure as a precautionary measure only due to advice upon law enforcement.

All students and staff are safe. We are grateful for all of our local law enforcement partners and we appreciate your patience and understanding.”

UPDATE, 10:20 a.m.: A lockdown at Glenwood Springs High School was activated shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday per instructions from area law enforcement agencies due to an ongoing police incident that has resulted in road closures throughout the Roaring Fork Valley and impacts to schools.

Lockdown means students and staff are asked to shelter in place inside the school as a safety precaution until given the all clear by law enforcement.

The other Glenwood Springs and Carbondale schools, as well as Garfield Re-2 schools in western Garfield County, are on “secure” protocol, meaning all external doors are locked and no one can leave or enter the building with the exception of monitored entry approved by school leadership or law enforcement.

“The safety and security of your child is our top priority,” a Roaring Fork Schools email alert sent at 10:18 a.m. states. “We are actively responding to the situation and collaborating with emergency responders. We will share more information as we get it.

“At this time, we ask that parents stay where they are and remain available to receive updates and instructions as needed.”

Learn more about the school district’s approach to school safety by reading the emergency and crisis information guide for parents here.

All Aspen School District schools have now been cleared of the threat, according to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office.

As a precaution, law enforcement initially placed Basalt and Carbondale schools into Secure protocol, according to Roaring Fork School District Facebook page. Secure status for Basalt and Carbondale schools went into effect shortly after 9 a.m. and was lifted at 9:38 a.m., according to Roaring Fork Schools alerts, but was reimplemented along with the GSHS lockdown about a half hour later.

ACTUALIZACIÓN:Todos los protocolos de seguridad en las escuelas de Glenwood Springs y Carbondale ahora se han levantado, según la última alerta de las escuelas de Roaring Fork.

This story is developing and will be updated as new information becomes available.

Original story:

Aspen School District was in lockdown around 9 a.m. Wednesday, according to the ASD website. Lockdown occurs when there is an immediate threat or hazard inside of a school building, Standard Response Protocol states.

“Students are safe and the buildings are secure. Please return here for updates on the half hour,” the website states.

According to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement is responding to an incident in the vicinity of Aspen schools. Roads in the area are closed and law enforcement asks people to stay away from the area.