Parents of children at Bob Hope School on Ninth Avenue were informed this week of a lockdown drill saying that at no point were the students in any danger.

But some parents have expressed concern that the lockdown was due to more than just a drill, which is something the school disputes.

The Port Arthur News received a phone call Thursday from a woman saying the campus was on lockdown and there was a police presence there. In addition, a News reporter saw two law enforcement vehicles drive to the school around 9 that morning.

A representative of Port Arthur Police Department said there was initially a call to the school regarding a disturbance in reference to an employee but the call was disregarded. This usually occurs if law enforcement is not needed or if other law enforcement is already at the scene.

A reporter visited the school about 45 minutes later but there were no law enforcement officers on site and a school representative said there had been a lockdown drill.

But Thursday night The News received an email alleging that staff members learned a male teacher who was in danger of being fired for inappropriate behavior, reportedly “got scared and ran back into the school building, causing a lockdown.”

Ellen Messick, chief operating officer with Bob Hope School, said there was a personnel matter at the school Thursday.

“This are no known facts suggesting inappropriate action took place,” Messick said. “This was a termination for failure to adhere to directives related to policy. As a result, all personnel actions are confidential and we have no further comment.”