Police will meet with school officials in Waynesboro today after a series of four bomb threats in the last month to the high school and Kate Collins Middle School. In an automated call to parents, Principal Janet Buckheit urged parents to talk with their kids.
"The school division takes bomb threats seriously. There are significant consequences including suspension or expulsion. The criminal consequences are up to a year of incarceration and a $2,500 fine."
That might seem harsh for children under the age of 15, but Police Chief Michael Wilhelm says bomb threats cause tremendous disruption for students and teachers while tying up fire, rescue and police resources including bomb-sniffing dogs from state police and neighboring communities:
"Because it takes more than one dog to clear an entire school. If we were to clear every inch of a school it would take several hours and multiple dogs, because they just can’t go for eight hours straight sniffing each corridor of the school."
Four students have been arrested in connection with the threats, and it appears they acted independently. Wilhelm says the calls were motivated by a simple desire to get out of school.
