VAN BUREN, Ark. (KTHV) -- A surprise lockdown that scared a student is causing the Van Buren School District to change its emergency drills policy.

Erica Hyatt's daughter sent her a text message earlier this week after teachers locked the doors, turned off the lights and told students to be quiet with no explanation.

"And so I instantly picked up my work phone and started calling the school. And I got busy signals. So I was panicking," described Hyatt.

Van Buren Schools said they didn't alert students or parents because they wanted it to feel as real as possible, but administrators say in the future, parents will be told.

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