Valley High School Student Suspended, Security Boosted Over Threat
NEW KENSINGTON (KDKA/AP) -- A student has been suspended and security was boosted Thursday at Valley High School after the teen allegedly wrote a plan to "shoot up the school" on his cellphone's calendar.
The school was placed on lockdown Wednesday, and there was a noticeable increase in police presence when classes began Thursday morning.
School officials have not commented on the specifics of the protective plan of action.
Meanwhile, New Kensington Police say they're continuing to investigate the seriousness of the alleged threat against Valley Jr./Sr. High School.
New Kensington-Arnold School District Superintendent John Pallone announced Wednesday that authorities learned of the alleged threat, which was on the student's calendar for Thursday.
School officials say no weapon was found; but as a precaution, the school decided to take the additional security measures.
The school typically operates in a locked down mode for security reasons anyway, with classrooms locked and students forbidden from being in the hallways except between classes.
Everyone who enters the school passes through metal detectors and bags are scanned.
It remains unclear if the student will be charged.
While this investigation is being led by the New Kensington Police Department the chief of police told KDKA that any updates would have to be provided by the school superintendent who was scheduled to be in a meeting until late Thursday afternoon.
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