Threat prompts closure of Stoneham High - The Boston Globe

Threat prompts closure of Stoneham High - The Boston Globe

Brick was heaved into school; note detailed attack

By David Abel, Globe Staff | May 28, 2009

STONEHAM - Police closed and cordoned off Stoneham High School yesterday after administrators said they received a "specific, credible threat" about a potential attack at the school.

At a news conference at the police station, investigators said custodians discovered early yesterday a brick thrown through the window of the vice principal's office. An envelope with a threatening note was attached to the brick.

"After reading the note, we thought it credible enough," said Stoneham Police Chief Richard Bongiorno.

The note threatened that specific types of explosive devices and other weapons would be used at specific times, Bongiorno said, but he would not provide other details. Seven police officers patrolled the school throughout the day and searched it for explosives, but they found nothing, he said.

"Given the nature of the threat, I decided school had to be closed," School Superintendent Les E. Olson said at the news conference.

Olson issued a statement last night that indicated the school would reopen today, with staff expected at 7:15 a.m. and students at 8. The 90 staff members and families of the 800 students at the high school, about 10 miles north of Boston, would be informed by automated phone message.

In his statement last night, Olson added: "An incident such as we have experienced today makes us all the more aware of our obligation to work with students and their parents to ensure the emotional as well as physical health and safety of our students. While we are confident in the decision to reopen school, we recognize that as parents you retain the final decision about sending your child to school. We will work with our local and regional agencies as we continue to address today's incident."

Police said they have no reason to believe the note was a prank or connected to graffiti recently found at the school, Bongiorno said. They are reviewing footage from surveillance cameras at the school.

He said they have not identified a suspect, but, he added, "We have some folks we're looking at."

Those responsible could be charged with a felony.

Samantha Peterson, 16, a sophomore at the school, said her family received the call about 7:30 a.m. that school was cancelled. She was happy to have the day off and wasn't worried about returning.

"I'm not really concerned," she said in an interview on Main Street. "It's probably a prank."

But other students said they were glad authorities took the threat seriously.

"Given the world today, this has to be taken seriously," Meghan Sheils, 17, a senior, said in a phone interview.

"I think the school is handling it really well, and I'm not worried to go back. I don't think they would reopen the school if it weren't safe."

Along Main Street, the school's closure was the talk.

As Michael Locke did the hair of several women at his salon off Main Street, he said he was glad police and school officials acted promptly.

He said he first learned the news on Facebook, where several students had noted how happy they were to have the day off.

"Any threat like this has to be taken seriously," he said.