A bomb threat at the high school marred Cobleskill-Richmondville’s otherwise smooth opening day of school last Wednesday.
The threat came via social media, so the high school was under a ‘shelter in place’ protocol, Superintendent Matt Sickles told school board members Tuesday night.
School officials acted quickly, he added, because one student alerted High School Principal Brett Barr about the threat.
“Kudos to that student who brought it forward,” said school board President Bruce Tryon.
The shelter in place, Mr. Barr said, was only to keep the hallways clear for an hour while State Police scanned the building.
Meanwhile, the offending student was identified, “removed, interviewed and searched” for what Mr. Barr termed a “mini-threat.”
Later that day, he held a school-wide Google session with students to explain what happened and what the shelter in place meant.
“I told them it was the misuse of social media and a cell phone,” Mr. Barr said.
Elsewhere, administrators were pleased to have school return to normal after several years of COVID-related restrictions.
“It was great to have faculty, staff and students back together after three years,” said Scott McDonald, director of Teaching and Learning.
Ryder Principal Jessie Westfall echoed that assessment, saying staff and students were “positive, happy and excited” to be back to normal.
Carey Raymond, the new principal at Radez, praised the smooth opening and the help she received on her first day.
“I can ask any single person for help,” Ms. Raymond said. “It’s been amazing.”
“Everyone stepped up” to deal with traffic and dismissal issues at Radez, she added.
An orientation for sixth-graders went well at Golding Middle School, said Principal Jeremiah Haslun.
“We’re refining the little things,” he said. “It was excellent to see kids enter and give them a normal schedule again.”