LATEST: Friday classes at Johnson Jr. High School have been canceled.

CCSD released the following statement to parents:

"Classes at Walter Johnson Junior High School will again be canceled tomorrow, Friday September 9, 2016. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you and your family, but our primary focus remains the safety of our students and staff. The school is currently being cleaned and decontaminated. This is necessary to contain further exposure. Regarding students who needed to leave their personal belongs at the school (shoes, back packs, etc.), please know that these items will remain at the school so they can be screened. A school staff member will be in contact with parents if personal belongings have been cleared to leave the school. We appreciate the cooperation of students, parents and staff."

A meeting was being held Thursday night at Jacobsen Elementary School where parents were expressing their concerns and asking questions about what happened at Johnson Wednesday night.

Lots of confused, angry parents at a q&a meeting after Johnson Jr. HS is locked down for mercury contamination. pic.twitter.com/uQlw9s6sOi — Christopher King (@ChrisKTNV) September 9, 2016

Some parents causing a scene at start of Johnson Jr High hazmat meeting not letting officials talk. @KTNV pic.twitter.com/b7tmM6E7Zb — Barry White (@KTNVBarryWhite) September 9, 2016

Parents now in a scrum, speaking on-on-one with officials about yesterday's Johnson Jr High hazmat situation. pic.twitter.com/PtU5y0rycV — Barry White (@KTNVBarryWhite) September 9, 2016

UPDATE: Students at Johnson Jr. High School have been allowed to leave. They were released at approximately 4:45 a.m. Thursday.

Hazmat feet coverings are still in front of the school. pic.twitter.com/4EkD9DZEat — Parker Collins (@parkercollinstv) September 8, 2016

ORIGINAL STORY

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) -- Officials say mercury is the cause of the soft lockdown at a Las Vegas junior high school Wednesday.

Students were not allowed to leave or enter the building and hundreds were at the school late Wednesday night.

At least 6 or 7 students were exposed.

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue reported the hazmat situation around 11:40 a.m. at Walter Johnson Junior High at 7701 Ducharme Avenue, near Buffalo Drive and Alta Drive.

Classes were canceled for Thursday to clean up after the mercury contamination.

The latest statement at 11:54 p.m. Wednesday:

Dear Parents: The Environmental Protection Agency is continuing the process of screening students, and has provided additional screening resources. School staff and first responders continue to work with the EPA on-site. Students are being allowed to eat. Thank you for your patience. We know this has been a challenging day, and we are thankful for the cooperation of our students, staff, first responders and our community.



The statement at 8:11 p.m.