Lauren Stanforth is reporting for the Times Union police briefly guarded the entrances to St. Thomas the Apostle School, a Catholic pre-k to 8 school in Bethlehem, while a threat of violence was investigated February 3, that authorities later determined to be unfounded. The incident also delayed afternoon dismissal at several nearby schools so police could assess the threat. An automated message sent to Bethlehem school parents said the public middle school had been placed in a precautionary lockdown, caused by an unfounded threat of violence within the community. St. Thomas "received a distressing phone call threatening violence just before dismissal," the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese said in a statement. The school delayed dismissal on the advice of law enforcement and students were eventually allowed to leave at 3 p.m. Police stayed behind for an another hour and plan to be on school grounds Thu., Feb. 4. Read the full story in the Times Union.