HUGHESVILLE - A bomb threat sent students of all the East Lycoming schools home early Thursday, but no risk was found, police said later that day.
"The threat was received by us at 7:45 (Thursday)," said Officer Rod Smith, of the Hughesville Police Department. "Basically what happened is that someone emailed a threat to the school principal and various school officials that said there were bombs planted in the school."
Students were dismissed at 10:30 a.m.
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Karen Vibert-Kennedy/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Lycoming County Sheriff Mark Lusk directs traffic Thursday at Hughesville High School. Students in the entire district were dismissed early after police received an emailed bomb threat.
"We decided to err on the side of caution,"
Superintendent Michael D. Pawlik said shortly before the dismissal. "We're putting safety absolutely first."
The state police bomb squad and their dogs, the Union County K-9 units and various officers from around the area searched the building to make sure everything was secure, Smith said.
Details are scarce as the investigation continues. Officers hope to find the person responsible for making the threat.
"We're keeping the details contained so it doesn't impede our investigation," Pawlik said. "School will be back in session (today) as normal."
Police declined to answer whether the threat was for a specific school or the entire district.
After the threat was received, parents were notified by the district's OneCall System, which calls the phone parents list as the emergency number. All announcements, such as early dismissals and delayed beginnings, are done in the same manner.
No child was left behind following the dismissal, Pawlik said.
Students were given information based on their school level. It was handled by the principal.
"We take (the threat) very seriously," he said. "We proceed with actions (that) are most appropriate to assure the safety of our students. We certainly look at all the information that's provided."
This was the first threat since Pawlik became superintendent last July.
"I would really commend our staff for the response, as well as the parents and students handling this situation very well," Pawlik said.
Sun-Gazette reporter Savannah Barr contributed to this report.
