What other Centre County schools are doing after threat made to Bellefonte high school
Several Centre County schools took precautions after Bellefonte Area High School received a threat Wednesday morning that police later determined was not credible.
According to state police, Bellefonte was one of several schools across Pennsylvania that received a computer-generated phone call threatening a shooting. Bellefonte Area High School and middle school went into lockdown following the call. High school students were evacuated about an hour later, and police and the district said the threat was determined to not be credible.
The calls were made to 911 centers about schools in different counties across the commonwealth, Pennsylvania State Police wrote in a statement.
Students were released and classes were canceled for the remainder of the day at BAHS, but Superintendent Tammie Burnaford said classes would resume on Thursday.
No other Centre County districts received similar calls, but some took precautions to keep students and staff safe.
On Wednesday morning, Superintendent Curtis Johnson sent out an email notifying parents that students would be kept inside during recess and gym, as well as an increased police presence. After the threat was found to not be credible, he updated parents that the district would return to normal operations.
“However, in light of what happened today and recent national events, we understand the emotional toll this has taken on many of us,” Johnson wrote in an email. “Accordingly, we will have school counselors available for our students.”
Bald Eagle Area School District kept students inside for the day and canceled afternoon classes at the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology. BEASD was also coordinating with local and state police to have an increased presence at district buildings, Superintendent Curt Whitesel said.
Penns Valley Area School District also took precautions after the incident but could not immediately share what they entailed with the CDT.
Philipsburg Osceola School District Superintendent Gregg Paladina said the district was aware of the phone call to Bellefonte but no additional precautions were planned Wednesday. There are school police officers in every POSD building and the district is appropriately prepared to respond to any credible threats, he said.
