Subject: Important Message Regarding School Safety and Recent Rumors
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I am writing to inform you about a recent incident that occurred within our school community and the actions we have taken to address it.
On Wednesday afternoon, we received concerning rumors regarding a student allegedly making threats to "shoot up" our school. We take any such reports very seriously, and upon being made aware of these rumors at approximately 2pm on Wednesday, we immediately initiated our threat assessment protocols in conjunction with local law enforcement. The threat was allegedly made on Tuesday evening. As such, please encourage your child(ren) to use the Safe2Say app if they hear any rumors in an effort to help us keep our school safe.
To ensure the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff, we collaborated closely with the Windber Borough Police for a thorough investigation into the matter. Additionally, we heightened our security presence during dismissal. It was determined that the student involved resides three hours away from our school and that the Windber Middle School was in no imminent danger.
The Windber Borough Police promptly contacted the police department in the student's residing area to take appropriate action and further investigate the situation. It's crucial to emphasize that based on the thorough investigation conducted, there was NO imminent threat to our school. The student involved resides several hours away, alleviating any immediate concerns about safety within our school community.
Though it was determined that the rumors were mere gossip and immature behavior, we believe in erring on the side of caution when it comes to the safety of our students and staff. Our primary objective was to follow protocols and ensure everyone's safety while maintaining a conducive learning environment. Again, please speak with your child(ren) about reporting any threats to a school official or via the Safe2Say app.
I want to reassure you that school will continue to function as normal, and our focus remains on providing a safe and nurturing educational environment for all our students. We encourage open communication and invite you to reach out to our middle school office if you have any further questions or concerns regarding this matter.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we work together to prioritize the safety and well-being of our school community.
Sincerely,
Mr. Michael J. Vuckovich
Superintendent of Schools