Students will pass through metal detectors at Lee County schools, reopening after threats

All students, staff and visitors at two Lee County Schools will need to pass through metal detectors Thursday and Friday after several threats were made toward the schools.

Students will return to classrooms Thursday at Lee County High School in Sanford after the school was closed on Wednesday when a threat was made against the school.

Things will not look normal for students in the coming days. A tweet from the high school says metal detectors will be used at front entrances to both buildings for the rest of the week.

Metal detector screenings will also be in effect at Southern Lee High School, which also received a bomb threat on Wednesday. The threats were not found to be credible.

School leaders said anyone sets off a metal detector could have their personal belongings, backpacks and bags searched.

The searches will only be conducted this week as of right now, the district reports.

“We appreciate your patience as we work to keep everyone safe,” the district wrote.

The recommendation to close Lee County High School came from the sheriff's office.

Schools in nearby counties have installed weapons detection systems, and Wake County Public School System leaders said it’s not off the table.

Student and staff at Southern Lee High School and SanLee Middle School were moved to a secure location briefly Wednesday morning after a threat called in to the high school. The sheriff's office quickly determined that there was no substance behind the threat, and students returned to class.