ESSEX COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Essex County Public Schools is dismissing students early on Friday after threats were made to the schools. According to a Facebook post from Essex County Public Schools, all county schools are dismissing at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, after receiving multiple phone c alls of threats against Essex High School. According to a spokesperson with the school district, the school administration quickly went into lockdown, and the Essex County Sheriff's Office and school division leadership teams were notified. Local and state authorities advised the schools to err on the side of caution, school officials said. Parents have been asked to receive their students at home to avoid congestion at schools and move buses as soon as possible. "Staff will be on standby until we are sure that students have reached home," Essex County Public Schools said in the post. "We will be in touch with families throughout the day until our students reach home and/or have been picked up." The school division added that after-school activities were canceled for the day. "The school staff, and the students, remained calm and followed instructions from Sheriff Holmes and the Interim Superintendent Bell, which included the closure of schools today," school officials said in an afternoon update. Information about the nature of the threats is not yet available. This is a developing story, stay with 8News for updates. ...read more read less