Falkville High School was placed on lockdown Nov. 17 after a student saw a suspicious person on campus.

School Superintendent Bill Hopkins said the student immediately reported seeing a person wearing a mask to his teacher, who reported it to the school administration. According to school policy, the school went into an immediate lockdown mode.

Principal Sue Wood said they reviewed surveillance video and saw a person running behind the school at the time the student reported seeing the suspicious person.

Falkville Police and the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department were called to the scene. The police questioned the student and tracking dogs were called in to track the suspect.

“They tracked the scent all the way to 31, but we couldn’t find them from there,” Wood said.

Upon further investigation, a break-in at the school’s ball field concession stand was discovered.

“We’re not sure whether that person and the break-in are related,” Wood said. “The police told us that they were confident there wasn’t anyone who shouldn’t be here and we went off lockdown at that time.”

Wood said the school has had problems in the past with vandalism and break-ins at the football concession stand.

“There was almost nothing in it,” Wood said. “I don’t know what they could have wanted in the stand. It could have been vandals, but we don’t know.”

The incident did cause a slight disruption.

“We had school the rest of the day,” Wood said. “School went on as usual… Our students were always taught to be vigilant if they see something suspicious. That’s exactly what he did. We felt like he should be commended for his actions.”

Hopkins echoed Wood’s praise of the student.

“I am most proud of the student of reporting the suspicious activity and the administration for going into lockdown this morning,” Hopkins said Nov. 17.

Hopkins said police officers remained on the campus for the rest of the day.