An important message for BCSD families and staff members from Superintendent Jody Monroe, 7:55 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11…
Dear BC community member:
As you may be aware, a lockdown was initiated at approximately 4:30 p.m. today at Bethlehem Central High School in response to a second phone threat of violence at BCHS. The lockdown was lifted at 6:15 p.m. I am writing to assure families, students and staff that all buildings have been deemed safe by law enforcement officials. All schools will be open on Thursday, Sept. 12.
The second phone threat against the high school was made shortly after I sent an update this afternoon. The second threat was received by the Bethlehem Police Department just before 4 p.m. today, Wednesday, Sept. 11.
The second call, which had similarities to the threat phoned into police on Tuesday night, included a threat of gun violence directed at the “football team” at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday outside the high school. The caller did not provide their name and did not state any connection to the high school or the school district.
Police Chief Gina Cocchiara notified me immediately after the call was received by the department. Members of our administrative team and I immediately went outside to initiate our safety protocols to ensure the safety of all students and staff on the playing fields. Police responded to the school. All individuals outside were brought inside to shelter as part of a lockdown initiated by police. These were student-athletes and coaches involved in afternoon practices and contests.
As a precaution, the lockdown at the high school was also extended to Eagle Elementary School and the School’s Out afterschool program. School’s Out students sheltered with their program leader/counselors and remained safe until they were picked up by their families.
At the high school, police secured the outside perimeter of the building while students and staff were safe inside. The threat as indicated by the anonymous caller never materialized. It is currently under investigation by the Bethlehem Police Department. All buildings have been deemed safe by the police department.
Once the perimeter of the high school was secured, police visited classrooms and other areas where students and staff were sheltering and began a successful reunification process with parents and guardians. Visiting teams were released under police supervision by bus to return to their home schools. BC students were reconnected with parents and guardians in an orderly manner under supervision of the police.
I want to commend our outstanding students for their ability to remain calm under difficult circumstances. They followed directions and supported one another during a tough afternoon. Parents and guardians were also extraordinary in their cooperation, patience and understanding.
The partnership with the Bethlehem Police Department has been critical over the last 24 hours. With their partnership , we plan to open ALL schools on Thursday, Sept. 12 for a regular day of instruction. There will be added police presence for a second day as the police department continues to investigate the source of the two phone threats.
For students and staff who were impacted by today’s lockdown, and anyone else who may need to talk to someone on Thursday, there will be counselors in every building, with additional counselors deployed to the high school to assist students, in particular.
Anyone who may have information related to these incidents is asked to contact the Bethlehem Police Department at 518-439-9973 or call 911.
Please keep in mind that any and all updates related to these incidents will be shared via ParentSquare.
And again, I thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Jody Monroe, Superintendent