Threats made Thursday night, September 12, against Ridgeway Area School District and Altoona Area High School ended a week where several local schools were on alert as a result of anonymous threats via text message.
According to WTAJ, the Altoona Area School District said they were alerted of a post on social media late Thursday night and have been working with Altoona police to investigate.
At this time, they report that no credible threat has been found. All schools in the Altoona Area will have a two-hour delay on Friday, Sept. 13. However, the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center will operate as normal. School officials said that while this may be a hoax, there will be a heightened police presence at Altoona schools. Earlier Thursday, Ridgeway Area Schools announced they would be closed Friday due to an alleged threat.
B-A security officer Tim Mercer said Bellwood-Antis was aware of the threats but said they were not made towards B-A school students.
“The Bellwood-Antis administration and Security Department have been discussing this issue on a regular basis in preparation for potential threats towards our school. To date, we have not been the subject of any of these [outside] threats,” Officer Mercer said. “We are currently monitoring the social media threats toward to Altoona School District and continue to receive updated information from officials at both Altoona School District as well as the Altoona Police Department. We want to remind all of Bellwood-Antis parents and guardians that we remain vigilant against these potential threats and that the safety of our student and staff remain our highest priority. It was not directed towards Bellwood Antis.”
While Thursday’s situation did not affect Bellwood-Antis, B-A was not free from potential security issues this week. On Tuesday, September 10, Dr. Donald Wagner informed Bellwood-Antis Security Officers Jeff Hanna and Mercer of a threat made in the middle school. What originally was an alleged student bullying report turned into a student allegedly storing a weapon in their locker. With the safety of all students and staff in mind, the officers investigated and effectively determined the entire threat unfounded.
These actions prompted a letter sent out from the district to parents and students regarding the incident. In a statement from both Officer Mercer and Officer Hanna, B-A security detailed the incident:
Yesterday while investigating an alleged incident of bullying, it was brought to our attention that another student made a joke about having a weapon in a locker a week ago. So once we learned that information we immediately began interviews of potential witnesses and the student that made the alleged comment had their locker searched with nothing found. Parents of all involved students were notified. All the students involved thought it was a joke. After this thorough investigation, it was determined that there was no actual threat towards our students or school. It was a poorly worded joke on the part of the student. After the investigation, an email was sent to students, parents/guardians, and staff to keep up our part as being transparent.
Officers Mercer and Hannah remind students that jokes that resemble threats will be treated as a threat. They will not be taken lightly and will have a through investigation involved.
Later that Tuesday, an email was sent out to students and parents explaining the incident via Infinite Campus:
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Earlier today, a report was made regarding a potential threat to our students. We want to assure you that the Bellwood-Antis administrative team, guidance department, and school security immediately conducted a thorough investigation.
The threat was not credible, and at no time were students in danger.
The safety of our students is our top priority, and we remain committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all.
Thank you for your continued support.
BASD Administration and Security
Since 2023 there have been two threats handled by B-A school security, one of the me coming in the past 5 months. As recently as May, school security had to apprehend a man who had wandered on campus with his dogs and became belligerent towards authorities before being restrained by both borough and school police. Last September, students were evacuated to the football field over a bomb threat hoax.
