If more bomb threats happen in the Scranton School District, any instructional time lost may be added to the end of the school year.
After a recent rash of bomb threats in Scranton and surrounding districts, officials said Wednesday night that they are willing to extend the school day or go further into June as a way to deter more threats from being made.
During a Scranton School Board health and safety committee meeting, school board members, district administrators, school principals and acting Police Chief Carl Graziano discussed ways to increase school safety and stop the threats.
Two South Scranton Intermediate School students have been expelled from school and are facing criminal charges for their roles in two separate threats at the school, Superintendent William King said. Investigations of threats in other schools are ongoing. No explosive devices have been found.
But beyond the threat of criminal charges, the threat of having to make up the time may be enough to stop the problem, Chief Graziano said.
After officials are notified of threats, schools are evacuated while the building can be swept for devices and eventually cleared. It can take one hour or more, and students in some districts have been dismissed early when a threat is made.
Rosemary Boland, president of the Scranton Federation of Teachers, said the union is willing to work with the district on adding the instructional time. Mr. King said he may send a call out to all parents informing them about the district's plan to make up the time lost for future threats.
At Wednesday's meeting, officials also discussed adding safety measures to some Scranton schools, including security cameras, locking interior doors and reflective window film at school entrances. The district is also going to try to find the money to place school resource officers at the alternative education programs held at both high schools after the regular school day.
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