Seaford Superintendent Explains District Response to Written Threat

Chris January 18, 2013 at 07:54 pm

Is the school attempting to find the person responsible? What actions are they taking?

Markymark January 19, 2013 at 12:06 am

Thank you for the follow up

VoReason January 19, 2013 at 01:52 am

What actions can they take? Forensic analysis of the handwriting by the FBI? All they can do is hope the identity comes out through gossip around the school. More than likely, the kid won't be caught. And before the cuckoos get started, when there is a non credible threat like the one on this note, the actions taken out of an abundance of caution are to move the students to an area that has first been searched by police so the rest of the building can then be searched. That's not a district policy, it's police protocol, so save the second guessing and judging of the school administration.

Chris January 21, 2013 at 02:54 pm

Yeah...I guess your right, kids will be kids after all. If some kids leaves a note that he or she would like to blow up the school, why should the administration try to find the person responsible. After all, kids would not commit senseless acts of violence on school grounds.
You should call yourself "NoReason" instead of VoReason!!

VoReason January 21, 2013 at 09:13 pm

I'm not saying they shouldn't find the person, but how do you suggest they do it? Seriously, rather than just make sarcastic remarks in response to a point I didn't make, explain how the police or administration can identify the writer of the note, aside from another student reporting who it was? Why do you think they never caught the person responsible for the two bomb threats at the hgh school last year? It's not cool to "snitch". So please, now that you know I am all for providing the safest environment for our kids, as I am we'll aware that children are capable of committing serious acts of violence, tell me how they should go about catching the student who wrote the threat? Respond to the point I actually made instead of putting words in my mouth

Chris Wendt January 21, 2013 at 09:53 pm

Establish the following policy:
"In the event of a threat being made against either the Middle School or the High School, all sports and other student extracurricular activities for all students in the affected school are suspended until the perpetrator is apprehended."

VoReason January 22, 2013 at 01:28 am

That could work, but I think you would have a tremendous uproar from parents with children losing their activities despite having no involvement. That would probably be a good deterrent policy, but when it came time to enforce it things could get ugly.

Truth be told January 22, 2013 at 02:18 pm

Chris that may be the most ignorant statement I have ever heard. Do you think before you speak? Your answer is to punish all the students that partake in sports and activities because of one student. What's next? Lets put everyone on jail till we catch all the worlds criminals.

Chris January 22, 2013 at 03:33 pm

That is not an ignorant statement. We must take threats seriously. What will it take to wake people up?!
To VoReason's point.........The school administration needs to start by asking questions. Establish a timeline. Who found the note? What students have classes in the area. Make an effort so that students in the school see that a real attempt is being made to find the person. That is just the beginning. Interview janitors...teachers. Issue a statement to the students that a "severe" punishment will be issued "when" the person or persons are caught. Anything less would be a disservice to our students and community.

Chris Wendt January 22, 2013 at 03:50 pm

That suggestion is not new or even novel. There are numerous precedents for this.
I haven't heard any proposal from you that would serve as either interdiction or deterrence to the juvenile delinquents who are threatening the safety and good order of our schools. What have you got to offer, please?

Chris Wendt January 22, 2013 at 03:57 pm

No involvement? Getting yanked out of class and "sheltered in cafeteria after the police determined it to be safe" certainly was involvement. So would be any images some kids may have formed in their heads about the possibility of someone about to start shooting-up people in their Middle School, or maybe blowing the whole place to kingdom come. Getting cheated out of very expensive and equally valuable learning time is also a direct form of involvement.
Both kinds of involvement by other students who were/are victims of these threats should generate a real uproar from parents over there. I can't hear any uproar though, can you? Just kids being kids, I suppose. WAKE UP!

Lorraine DeVita January 22, 2013 at 05:28 pm

We have no idea what avenues are or were explored in either of the several incidents that have transpired within the past few years. We dont even know if the individuals involved were found out and what if any punishements were metted out. Deterents ? There is no guaranteed deterent that anyone could/can implement that would stop this from happening again. especially if only local law enforcement is involved. SD's must send a clear and STRONG message to BOTH parents and students that if any student or person attempts to do this FBI will be called. Local law enforcement is not exactly unbiased and could be subject to a host of outside and inside local influence. FBI involvement holds more weight in my opinion. These bomb notes are a threat to do harm and while many idiot teens may think it is a joke. They and their parents will find dealing with the FBI and ATF is not as funny as they think. Consequences need to be estbalished that instill some sort of FEAR that both parent and child can not overlook. The 7th in my opinion treats these incidents as childish pranks. No longer can they be considered such. When and if this happens again and even now the SD should immediately contact the FBI or even the State Police to investigate. Especially when there have been multiple incidents with no results in apprehending the suspects. ONE day it might not BE an childish prank.

Chris Wendt January 22, 2013 at 08:47 pm

"You" in the above comment refers to contributor using the avatar of Truth be told.

DebbieW January 23, 2013 at 01:13 am

Whatever happened to that New Year's resolution? Was that a joke or is this hypocrisy? Some people would sincerely appreciate you following your own remark. You live in WANTAGH and pay taxes THERE. Please... stay out of Seaford's business.

Chris Wendt January 23, 2013 at 10:32 am

@ DebbieW re: 'Whatever happened to that New Year's resolution?'
I slipped. Thanks for reminding me. I shall try to do better going forward.

VoReason January 23, 2013 at 11:19 pm

My initial comment was meant to emphasize the point that catching a student responsible for something like this is extremely difficult. If the district is unable to find out who is responsible, I wouldn't be surprised. But Chris w, being involved and being affected by are not synonymous. You cannot punish students who have done nothing wrong. so your suggested policy might serve as a powerful deterrent, but it could never be put in place. Can you imagine hearing that your child couldn't take part in a school club or sport because of someone else's actions? Also, what happens to the stipends for the advisors and coaches for those suspended clubs? Do they get paid for nothing? You certainly can't withhold their money, so how does that policy actually work? Again, my whole point is just to illustrate how difficult it is to stop and/or respond to these incidents. I think we all agree that everything that can reasonably be done should be done, but its wrong to simplify the task and imply that the district isn't doing enough.