SHERMAN — An “external threat” in the Sherman Central School District forced a shelter-in-place procedure for students and a law enforcement investigation was launched after school hours Tuesday.

“There was an external threat that we got and we called the Sheriff’s department while we had some kids in practice,” said Michael Ginestre, Sherman superintendent, when reached by phone Tuesday evening.

After determining there was a threat, school officials contacted the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s office.

Students who were attending basketball and musical practices were sheltered inside the 127 Park St. property until the threat was assessed by law enforcement, Ginestre said.

“We did a shelter in place while they investigated it,” he reiterated.

A number of students and district employees, who were present in the building due to the after-school practices, were restricted to their immediate locations until the threat was investigated by Sheriff’s deputies.

“We used a shelter in place as a precaution and kept kids in the gym and auditorium until they did the investigation,” Ginestre said.

Ginestre said the students attending practice remained on school property until the Sheriff’s Office indicated “everything was clear” at which time the shelter-in-place procedure was lifted and students were allowed to leave.

The superintendent could not detail what the district determined to be an external threat that forced the investigation.

Ginestre said the Sheriff’s and DA’s offices were “fantastic” in assisting the school district.

A phone call to the Sheriff’s Office from The Post-Journal was not immediately returned.