Schools take precautions amid reported threat

Staff report

youngstown

Catholic Diocese of Youngstown schools within the city were on a modified lockdown Monday after a “noncredible” threat reportedly made on the Internet.

Superintendent Nicholas Wolsonovich said access into and movement inside the schools has been limited. A full lockdown would restrict all movement.

“We’re just being overly cautious at this point in order to protect the kids and others at the schools,” he said.

Police notified all schools in the city of a “nonsubstantiated,” “noncredible” threat made in an Internet chat room. The threat didn’t identify a specific school.

William Morvay, school security chief for Youngstown City Schools, said district principals have been notified as a precaution.

The threat came through a chat room, and police were notified by someone in the Netherlands who saw the threat.

It said the poster wanted to shoot people at his or her school when classes resumed Monday.

“Youngstown Police have determined it’s not a credible threat,” Morvay said.

They’re trying to figure out who posted the threat, he said.

Word of the threat has spread to Facebook and other social-media sites.

The city schools are not on lockdown, though all doors are locked and access restricted through one set of doors every school day, school personnel said. Classroom doors also were locked.

To get into one of schools, a visitor must push a buzzer, and personnel inside decide whether to allow visitors to enter a building.

City school middle and high schools also require students and visitors to pass through a metal detector upon entering.