Schools

Crompond School: Tuesday's Bomb Threat Deemed "Non Credible"

A note in the boys' fifth grade bathroom said there was a bomb at the school. Students and staff were safe, according to school officials.

A bomb threat at Crompond Intermediate School had police and administrators taking every precaution to investigate the incident and ensure the safety of students and staff on Tuesday.

School principal Ken Levy has posted a letter on the school's website about today's events. In it he informed parents the "threat was vague and considered non-credible" and that all students and staff were safe. 

District officials said upon learning of the bomb threat around noon, the Yorktown police was immediately notified and bomb-sniffing dogs were brought to search the entire school.

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"The children were moved into the gymnasium after it was deemed absolutely safe to occupy," Levy wrote in the letter. "I spoke to the children and assured them that they were in no danger. The word I kept using was that we were following protocol; which is exactly what we did."

Parents were notified of the bomb threat via emails and phone calls at about 12:44 p.m. and again at around 1:45 p.m. They were assured there was "no immediate danger."

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Nicole Masi, who has a 9-year-old son at the school, said her son was told that a note, which was found in the boys' fifth grade bathroom, read that there was a bomb in the school. Some misspellings on the note led officials to believe the note was left by a student. Masi said her son, Jarid, told her that initially he was nervous thinking there was someone in the building, but the amount of police and canines made him feel safe.

Levy wrote in his letter to parents that "no matter how remote a threat might be the safety of all at CIS is paramount" and that protocol would always be followed. 

"Our regular, consistent and very professional and organized drills help keep us prepared to meet emergencies such as these," said Karli Wheeler, the district's media manager.

Yorktown school administrators said they are confident the individual or individuals responsible for the bomb threat would be held responsible. 

Here is the entire letter principal Ken Levy had posted on the school's website:

Dear Crompond Parents & Guardians: 

As you already know we've had quite an exciting day at CIS. We started with a District two hour delay and then we had a bomb threat. 

I thank Dr. Napolitano for his timely Connect ED and for relaying to you the most important information that no one at CIS was in danger. The threat was vague and considered non-credible. The police responded immediately. My sincere thanks to the Yorktown Police Department for not only their rapid response but for their thorough response also. lt appeared as if every available police officer was here. 

The children were moved into the gymnasium after it was deemed absolutely safe to occupy. I spoke to the children and assured them that they were in no danger. The word I kept using was that we were following protocol; which is exactly what we did. 

No matter how remote a threat might be the safety of all at CIS is paramount! Protocol will always be followed. As l write this the children are enjoying a video and the County Police are searching one classroom at a time utilizing bomb snifñng canines. 

It's now ten minutes later and the children are returning to their classrooms. We'll finish the day with every class rotating through the lunch line and eating in the classroom. We’Il then have a normal dismissal and any scheduled after school activities will take place. 
You should know that your children were wonderful. They were calm and cooperative. They were a most important component of the quintessential WE community. 

Once again special thanks to Mr. T Cole, Dr. R Napolitano, the Yorktown Police Department, and the County Canine Corps.

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