School cleared after bullet found

Discovery of .22-caliber cartridge at Shaker High not immediately reported

Shaker High School students were sent home early Friday after an employee discovered a .22-caliber bullet near the floor of the nurse’s office, officials said.

Julia Lilkendey, a spokesperson for the North Colonie Central School District, said the employee who found the bullet did not immediately report it to district administration. She said about two hours elapsed from the employee finding the bullet

to reporting it.

“An employee did find it and had to deal with something else and then brought it to the office,” she said.

A person briefed on the police investigation also confirmed that a significant amount of time had elapsed between the finding of the bullet and the decision to send students home.

Lilkendey said as soon as the administration learned of the bullet it contacted the school resource officer, who then called police. Colonie Police Lt. Daniel Belles said his department received a call at around 11:30 a.m. about the incident and was still working Friday afternoon to determine how it got in the school.

“We’re definitely trying to figure that out,” he said. “It’s very hard to narrow that down.”

After consulting with police, the district decided to send students home early at 12:45 p.m. out of “an abundance of caution,” Superintendent D. Joseph Corr wrote in an email to parents sent at 12:30 p.m.

“Upon advice of the Colonie police, all other schools in the district will continue with a regular school day and dismissal as this concern is confined primarily to the high school,” Corr wrote, adding that police patrols would be increased around those schools.

“

An employee did find it and had to deal with something else and then brought it to the office.”

Julia Lilkendey, school district spokeswoman

Lilkendey said the district followed all policy and protocol with regards to reporting the bullet to police. She could not say whether the employee had, however, and said she was unsure why the employee waited before reporting.

“I think that’s a personnel matter,” she said. “No explanation was provided that I am aware of.”

Friday evening school activities and athletic practices were given the green-light after consultation with police, she said.

Lori Van Buren / Times Union archive North Colonie officials dismissed school at 12:45 p.m. Friday after a bullet was found on the floor near the nurse’s office. How it got there was unclear.