False alarm triggers lockdown at Gurnee middle school

A lockdown Monday morning at Woodland Middle School in Gurnee was the result of a false alarm triggered by the installation of a new security system, police said.

The alarm was set off at about 11:20 a.m., leading to an emergency announcement being broadcast over the school’s public address system, officials said. All available Gurnee police officers immediately responded to the school as a precaution.

Lockdown procedures were in effect for about an hour while officers cleared the building room by room, police said. The lockdown was lifted at 12:24 p.m., once it was determined there was no active threat, and all students and staff returned to normal school activities.

Gurnee police said they will work with the school district to review the new system procedures and Monday’s response.