Bomb threats increase security at 2 Shenango Valley high schools

By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Bomb threats at two Shenango Valley high schools resulted in increased security today, though nothing was found.
Students, staff and visitors to the Sharon and Farrell high schools had to pass through metal detectors and subject their possessions to searches by authorities.
Officials in both districts said the threats occurred Wednesday. Both buildings house grades seven through 12.
At Sharon, two notes were found in stalls in separate restrooms during the day, one making a veiled death threat for Friday and the other not really a clear threat at all, said Dr. Donna DeBonis, superintendent. Police were notified and determined the threats weren't credible, she said.
An hour after dismissal for the day, however, an administrator got a call from the parent of a high school student who had overheard two other students saying they weren't coming to school today because a bomb would be going off, DeBonis said. That prompted the district and police to implement the district's Crisis/Safety Plan.
School officials implemented a staggered starting time for different grades to handle searches of people entering the building, DeBonis said.
There is no school in Sharon on Friday, but an in-service session for teachers has been moved from the high school to another building.
DeBonis said no decision has been made about Saturday programs scheduled for the high school.
In Farrell, a bomb threat written on toilet paper was found in a men's restroom at the high school shortly before 3 p.m. It was right at dismissal time, and the building was evacuated as police and firefighters were called, said Superintendent Richard Rubano.
Farrell extended its building search to the elementary school, which is attached to the high school.
The Farrell threat made reference to next Tuesday, Rubano said. There is no school scheduled in Farrell on Friday or Monday, he said, but classes will resume Tuesday and everyone will go through the search procedures again, he said.
Teachers do have an in-service day Friday.