GARDINER — All of the schools in Gardiner-based Maine School Administrative District 11 were locked in for about an hour Wednesday due to a “known safety threat within the community,” Superintendent Patricia Hopkins said.

Students and staff members were allowed to move freely within the building during the time, but the district prohibited anyone from entering school buildings from about 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

In a post to the district’s website, Hopkins said the safety concern was not directed at the school, but elsewhere in the community.

“This is only being done as a precautionary measure,” Hopkins wrote in the post. “No threat has been made against any student, staff, or school building. As soon as we are notified that the safety concern has been addressed, the ‘lock in’ will be lifted and families will be notified.”

In a subsequent post at 12:46 p.m., Hopkins notified parents the lock-in had been lifted.

“I want to inform you that the community safety concern that prompted the lock-in procedures at all our schools has been fully resolved,” Hopkins wrote. “As a result, the lock-in has been lifted, and all schools have returned to their regular schedules. I appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time, as the safety of our school community remains our highest priority.”

Gardiner police could not be reached Wednesday for comment.Maine State Police said Wednesday afternoon that the incident stemmed from a person who left a voicemail with the MaineGeneral Health outpatient location in Gardiner, reportedly “expressing frustration and leaving comments that raised concern with the staff,” which led them to call law enforcement.

“A short time later the individual who made the call voluntarily checked himself into a local hospital for an evaluation,” state police said. “The situation remains under investigation and no further information is available at this time.”

MaineGeneral Health posted at 11:20 a.m. Wednesday on Facebook that its outpatient services in Gardiner would be shut down for the day following a “credible threat.” By 12:48 p.m., MaineGeneral had posted that the threat had been contained, and the facility is to reopen Thursday.

“We are working closely with the Maine State Police,” the initial post read. “Patients who have appointments today in Gardiner are being contacted directly. If you need Express Care, lab or imaging services, please use our Augusta or Waterville locations. We expect our Gardiner facility will reopen tomorrow (Thursday).”