Police Investigate Multiple Bomb Threats; SHS Principal Says School is Safe and Praises Spirit of Cooperation

On the day following the bomb threats that caused the evacuation of Scarsdale High School, police revealed that there was not one, but multiple threats found at the school. They are actively investigating, but in the meantime, school is open and SHS Principal Kenneth Bonamo has assured the community that the building is secure.

According to student sources, on Monday morning, after students noticed what appeared to be a threat written on a wall in a girl's bathroom, they told a teacher who alerted administration and officials. According to these student sources, the reported threat stated something like "Scarsdale High School is going down at 10:30."

When asked, police confirmed the general accuracy of this account. But, apparently, that was not the only threatening message left in the school.

Police Captain Thomas Alitizio told Scarsdale10583, "The incident that we originally responded to was for a note written in a stall that was very close to what you've been hearing [i.e "Scarsdale High School is going down at 10:30."] While investigating the initial report and searching the school, some other writings were found in other locations."

Among these other writings was the phrase stating " My bomb is planted ar u ready to kill." This message, in particular, was photographed by a student at the school and shared with Scarsdale10583.com on Monday.

"All of the writings are being investigated," Atizio said. "It is not known at this time when the notes were written, and if they were all written by the same person. Because this is an evolving investigation, new information is being developed as we proceed. We are investigating this incident from several aspects, and the investigation is our primary concern at this stage."

On Monday evening, Principal Kenneth Bonamo sent out the following email to the high community, praising their cooperation but also warning that bomb threats are criminal offenses. He urged parents to discuss the events of the day with their children and to contact their deans if they had concerns. Here is his note:

Dear Parents:

At the end of a most unusual day that began with a false bomb threat discovered this morning, I am filled with a sense of gratitude for the cooperation displayed by all members of our community today. Our students were most cooperative despite a bit of a wait in the cold for the buses to take them to the middle school, and staff members at both schools were incredibly helpful and proactive in ensuring safe transport to and from the high school and the safety of our students overall. Members of the Scarsdale Police and Fire Departments, as well as the County Bomb Squad, were on site for a good part of the day and did a thorough and swift job in sweeping the building and returning us to safety.

The building is safe for occupancy tomorrow. Police have given us the "all clear" and are continuing their investigation. Making a bomb threat is a criminal offense that causes unease and anxiety and challenges our sense of security and community. Such actions have no place in our school and are unnecessarily unsettling and disruptive. Please discuss today's events with your child as he or she prepares to return to school tomorrow to help process any feelings he or she may be experiencing, and please reach out to your child's dean if you feel further attention is warranted.

In addition, today was the first day of quarterly testing. In most cases, any tests that were not administered today will be administered on Wednesday, April 1. Students should verify testing schedules with their teachers.

Again, I am grateful for the efforts of all involved today, and I ask for your partnership in helping our children process the day and move forward undaunted. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Sincerely,
Kenneth Bonamo
Principal