A bomb threat scrawled on a bathroom stall forced officials to temporarily close Cobleskill-Richmondville High School last Tuesday.
Police found no bomb, but the next day they arrested a 16-year-old student for making the threat.
And only days later, a bomb threat at Middleburgh Elementary School had officials there scrambling. (See related story.)
C-R Superintendent Carl Mummenthey said a night cleaner found the threat written on the stall in a boys' bathroom at the high school about 6:15am Tuesday.
"It referenced a bomb and a date," he said. "It was a message to create havoc and a specific date."
Schoharie County sheriff's deputies responded minutes later.
By then, however, buses were already picking up students, so it was too late to cancel school, Mr. Mummenthey said. Instead, high school students were taken to Golding Middle School.
Bomb-detecting K9 units from the Otsego County Sheriff's Office and the Schenectady City Police Department searched the high school and found no bomb.
Students were returned to the high school and classes resumed shortly before 10am.
Sheriff's deputies and Cobleskill Village Police arrested the 16-year-old boy.
He was charged with making a terrorist threat, a class D felony.
"It was just good old-fashioned police work," said Sheriff Tony Desmond.
He credited department Investigator Nelson Armlin with making the arrest.
"A student came forward who overheard a conversation," Investigator Armlin said. "He put us on the right track."
School officials also helped. Many people came forward with tips, and administrators directed them to the police.
"It's good to see our school community is much more aware of safety and security," Mr. Mummenthey said. "We're glad people came forward."
Investigator Armlin described the boy, whose name won't be released because of his age, as remorseful.
"He knows he made a really bad choice," Investigator Armlin said.
The boy was arraigned in Richmondville Town Court, was released to his parents and will return to court at a later date.
The incident over, Mr. Mummenthey was satisfied C-R's staff followed emergency procedures well.
School board President Bruce Tryon agreed.
"The systems we have in place and practice to protect both students and employees at C-R were validated," Mr. Tryon said.
Years ago, Mr. Mummenthey said, bomb threats weren't taken nearly as seriously as they are today.
"The world we live in is a lot different than when we were growing up," Mr. Mummenthey said. "Now it's a serious threat to public safety."
He hoped that the seriousness of the charge--a felony--would serve as a deterrent to others.
"But you never know," Mr. Mummenthey said. "There's no reliable profile for someone who might do something violent in school."