Security and safety is an ever-present concern for parents, students and school staff.

Warren County School District Superintendent Gary Weber penned a letter to parents dated Monday to address those concerns.

“At the Warren County School District, the safety and security of our students and staff is our number one priority,” Weber said. “We understand that communication with parents during potential school threats can be difficult and sometimes frustrating, but rest assured, every threat is taken seriously and addressed with the utmost care and professionalism.”

Last week, the district addressed a rumor “circulating on Snapchat regarding a threat to our schools,” according to a District Facebook post.

“After a thorough investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police, they have confirmed that this threat is a hoax originating from Tennessee and poses no real danger to our students or staff,” they concluded.

“Our district has established comprehensive safety procedures that all employees follow when responding to any potential threat at school,” Weber said. “These procedures have been developed in collaboration with school safety experts and are reviewed annually in executive session with the Board of Education and reported to the state.”

He cited that all district employes are trained in situational awareness, trauma-informed education, behavioral health awareness, suicide and bullying awareness, substance use awareness and emergency drills “for scenarios such as fires, natural disasters, active shooter situations, hostage events and bomb threats.”

“When dealing with any threat, our response involves a thorough investigation, which often includes the Superintendent, central office administration, building administration, the School Safety and Security Coordinator, school resource officers, local law enforcement agencies, and the District Attorney’s office,” Weber explained. “All parties work together to assess and mitigate any risk to students or staff.”

He acknowledged the difficult balance with protecting student privacy and investigations while being open with the community.

“While we are committed to keeping you informed, there are legal limits to what we can share,” he said. “Please know that if we have not closed your child’s school, it is because our assessment has shown no imminent danger, or we have implemented protocols that allow us to mitigate any potential threat effectively.”