LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — “As a parent I’m pretty much in the dark in the details around it," said Sarah Woolard from Plains.
School safety was the top discussion at Monday night’s Wilkes-Barre Area School Board meeting after a string of recent threats directed at Luzerne County schools.
This was the fourth for the district so far this school year.
But this time, Wilkes-Barre Area's protocol looked a little different. Instead of sending kids home, the schools enacted a “lockout."
“This threat came in a little bit different than the last we received, so we were able to maintain our students in school with a lockout procedure, which was just the safest place for them at that point," said Dr. Brian Costello, superintendent for Wilkes-Barre Area.
Parents brought their concerns to school administrators about what’s being done, and how these disruptions are taking a toll on their kids.
“I think they know that they're safe. It's just a matter of being frustrated that this is even happening,” said Woolard.
School board members, including the safety committee chair, Ned Evans, reassured parents that they are constantly adding to safety plans—including resource officers and metal detectors.
“I think we’re pretty darn safe. We keep coming up with ideas. We keep looking around. Right now, we’re trying to get a sniff dog," said Evans.
Dr. Costello says the threats are currently being investigated by both federal and local law enforcement. He said that despite the disruptions, safety is still the priority.
"There will be no threat that we get, regardless of how many more emails or other issues that we receive, that we will not take seriously,” said Costello.
As for the days off due to the threats, Costello says the district has additional time built into the schedule. So, whether the district will have to make them up is all up to Mother Nature and how many snow days come this winter.
Two other schools in Luzerne County received threats Monday as well.
Lake-Lehman and Dallas Area closed early after threats were emailed to the districts.
This is the third week in a row the schools have been threatened. Both districts say counselors will be available for students.
In statements Monday afternoon, Lake-Lehman and Dallas officials said classes will resume Tuesday.