If Wednesday's bomb scare at the Wynn Middle School was intended as a "joke" or a "prank," Chief of Police Timothy Sheehan and Superintendent of Schools Dr. John O'Connor are not laughing.

There will be a police presence at the school today (May 24) in the wake of an incident that forced the evacuation of students and staff and an early end to the school day.

According to Sheehan, the incident began around 1 p.m. when a male student found a note scrawled on the bathroom wall, written by someone who indicated they had a bomb.

"I can tell you the words were very small," said O'Connor, at Wednesday night's School Committee meeting at the Wynn School. "My thumb could have covered all of them. It was clearly written by a student."

School officials notified the Police Department at 1:15 p.m. and emergency crews were on the scene immediately. Sheehan said the NEMLEC STARS Team was notified and activated and that a perimeter was established. Regional responders came from as far away as Wenham and Boston.

The building was evacuated, with students and staff going to an area on Victor Drive. According to O'Connor, the students were outside for 75 minutes before they were released to go home.

Parents were notified of the situation but were unable to pickup their children until the normal release time.

In the meantime, K-9 teams, police officers, and school department staff worked together to search the school for anything out of the ordinary.  Nothing was located and just before 4 p.m., the school was cleared and emergency responders left the scene, according to Sheehan.

Both the Police Department and the School Department are taking the case very seriously. According to O'Connor, the TPD is investigating the case and are aggressively looking for the student or students responsible. O'Connor had a message for that person.

"Regardless of the age, you face the possibility of arrest and court and the embarrassment that comes with that," he said. "Parents need to know this is something we take very seriously."

In addition, said Sheehan, there will be an increased police presence inside the Wynn School throughout the school day Thursday.

 May seems to be the month for these types of incidents. In May 2011, similar types of incidents resulted in evacuations of the Tewksbury High School and the North Street School.