No bomb found at AG after threat called in
Albert Gallatin Area School District held classes as usual Friday after some disruption the day before from an unfounded bomb threat. “We determined that the buildings were safe, so we put it on the radio and our hotline that there are no cancellations or delays, and we are operating on a regular schedule,” Superintendent Walter Vicinelly said.
On Thursday around 11:05 a.m., Fayette County 911 emergency services notified school district administrators that someone called 911 and said bombs were placed in the Masontown High School Building.
The building was formerly a high school and later housed other grades and administration offices. Students from Albert Gallatin North Middle School occupy the Masontown building now temporarily while the middle school in McClellandtown is renovated.
Students were evacuated to the Masontown Volunteer Fire Department hall, and the school district’s crisis plan was put into effect. Local and state police responded, along with Masontown, Edenborn and McClellandtown fire departments.
According to a statement issued by the school district, a search of the building got under way and parents were notified of an early dismissal. The statement outlined crisis plan priorities.
“First and foremost, see to it that there is no threat to the safety of students,” was the top priority.
The plan called for informing the parents, avoiding unnecessary interruptions to education and making every effort to apprehend and prosecute those guilty of making the threat.
Commending everyone for cooperating, Vicinelly said the crisis plan worked. He said police would investigate.
Uniontown Area School District received a bomb threat in mid-October and Southeastern Greene School District received three bomb threats later in the month. Those threats remain under investigation.