School Calls Meeting After Bomb Threats & Arson

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- A local high school planned to hold a meeting next Tuesday after several recent incidents.

NBC 4's Tanya Hutchins reported with the FAST FACTS.

Pickerington Central High School was locked down Thursday morning after a threat was made to students.

According to police, a student found a handwritten paper containing a bomb threat that included specific students' names and different times of the day that they would be in danger.

The note surfaced at about 9:15 a.m. Thursday.

Officials searched the school for the bomb but found nothing.

"The threat was to make sure these kids are safe at a certain time and each had a certain time marked by their name," said Pickerington Police Chief Michael Taylor.

The four students who were named in the threat were removed from the school and their parents were notified.

The school was under lockdown from about 11 a.m. to a little before noon.

The school also had a bomb threat Wednesday.

The school planned to hold a meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday for students and parents to talk about an action plan after two lockdowns over two days and an act of arson and vandalism on two of the school's vans.

Authorities would not say whether Thursday's written threat was related to a bomb threat that was made Wednesday or the vandalism from earlier this week.

Thursday marked the second lockdown at the building in two days, in addition to an arson at the school Monday night involving two vans used to transport students.

"It's pretty sad actually that something is going on in the school that you would have to go to that extent where you have to lock your students down. They're here for an education actually and not for something of this type," said Darryl Gee, a parent.

"The school will not tolerate this and neither will the district. There will be incidental privileges that will be revoked," said Lee Cole, of Pickerington Local Schools.

"I'm telling parents this is a very serious action that some kid has taken. It's no longer a joke and we will find out who's making these calls and making these bomb threats," Taylor said.

School officials sent letters home with students Thursday, saying in part, "PHSC and the Pickerington Local Schools will not tolerate this type of behavior in any way, which is not indicative of the excellence that the student body exhibits on a regular basis. We are working in cooperation with the Pickerington Police Department to get this resolved and those involved will be punished to the fullest extent of the law ... Again, we are not going to tolerate this and you need to know what we are doing to prevent further actions to keep our students safe.

"We are addressing these issues as a school community by increasing the supervision in the hallways, and staff members are increasing their presence in the restrooms. Student hall pass usage will be carefully documented and limited. We are encouraging our students to come forward with any information that may help us bring these actions to an end. If you or your student has any information, you may anonymously call the Safe School Hotline at 1-800-418-6423 ext. 359."

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