November 13, 2025

Dear Fullerton Community, Parents, and Students,

I want to provide a detailed update on the lockdown events that occurred today at Fullerton Union High School (FUHS), Sunny Hills High School (SHHS), and Troy High School (TRHS), and to assure you of the safety of all our students and staff. Additionally, the La Vista/La Sierra High Schools (LV/LSHS) site was placed on lockdown due to its proximity to TRHS. All shelter-in-place and lockdowns have now been lifted, and all campuses are clear and safe.

At approximately 1:30 p.m., FUHS, SHHS, and TRHS began receiving phone calls reporting possible bomb threats. As soon as these reports were received, school administrators immediately notified the Fullerton Police Department, and each campus followed established safety protocols. These procedures are practiced regularly through our emergency drills and are designed to keep students and staff safe while law enforcement evaluates the situation.

Students at the affected campuses were either directed to remain in their classrooms or moved to a supervised outdoor location, depending on the circumstances at each site. FUHS and TRHS were cleared prior to the end of the school day and, along with LV/LSHS, were released at their typical 3:30 p.m. dismissal time. SHHS experienced a delay in dismissal as officers completed their thorough assessment of the campus, and students were released at 4:30 p.m.

I am relieved to share that the Fullerton Police Department completed searches at all campuses and determined that the threats were non-credible. All campuses have been deemed safe. With this clearance, all after-school programs, athletic events, and activities will proceed this afternoon and evening, though some may experience slight delays as campuses return to normal routines. All school activities are expected to resume as normal tomorrow, and there will be additional police presence on all campuses to ensure continued safety and reassurance.

I want to take a moment to recognize and thank those who made today’s safe outcome possible:

• The Fullerton Police Department: We are deeply grateful for your swift, coordinated, and professional response. Your partnership and diligence ensured the safety of every student and staff member.
  
  

• Our staff: Today, you went above and beyond. You stayed calm under pressure, provided reassurance to students, and managed a challenging situation with professionalism, compassion, and incredible care. Many of you stayed late, ensured every student was supervised, and kept families informed and supported. Your dedication, kindness, and teamwork embody the heart of our schools, and I am deeply grateful for each of you.
  
  

• Our students: Thank you for following directions, remaining calm, and demonstrating responsibility during today’s emergency procedures. Your behavior helped make a difficult situation much more manageable.
  
  

• Our families: Thank you to our parents, guardians, and community members for your patience, trust, and support. Your calm cooperation allowed our schools and law enforcement to focus fully on keeping our students safe. Incidents like today remind us how essential preparation, communication, and strong community partnerships are in ensuring the safety and well-being of our students.
  
  

• Fullerton College and Fullerton School District: Thank you to the Fullerton College Campus Safety team, the Fullerton School District, and all support staff who contributed to today’s successful management of the situation.

While we do not wish for events like this to occur, I am proud of how our entire Fullerton Joint Union High School District community came together today. We remain committed to maintaining safe, secure, and welcoming environments for learning and to keeping you informed every step of the way.

An active investigation is underway regarding these false threats. If you have any information that may assist law enforcement, please contact the Fullerton Police Department or alert your campus administrator immediately.

Thank you for your continued trust, support, and partnership. We look forward to seeing everyone back at school tomorrow.

Warm regards,

Steve McLaughlin, Ed.D.

Superintendent 

Fullerton Joint Union High School District