VENANGO CO., Pa. (EYT) – With school violence remaining a hot topic around the nation, student safety and security are constant concerns for local administrators.

ExploreVenango.com spoke to some administrators from around the county about what local schools are doing to keep students safe in these uncertain times.

Karen Jez, Superintendent of Titusville Area School district, said, “I think first and foremost, we take a proactive approach in regard to student-at-risk behavior. We use student assistance programming to identify kids at risk that may be having behaviors that become concerning, and we have our teachers and staff trained in awareness and being watchful, so upfront we know our kids. One of the best things you can do is to know your kids and have that connection with them.”

Many area schools regularly pursue Safe Schools grants through the Pennsylvania Department of Education. These targeted grants offer resources for equipment and programs or school security or resource officers. Most recently, Valley Grove School District received a Safe Schools Equipment/Program grant for the 2017-18 school year, and Oil City Area School District and Titusville Area School District both received Safe Schools Initiative Targeted grants for the 2015-16 school year.

Pamela Dye, Superintendent of Franklin Area School District, told exploreVenango.com, “At a recent board meeting, we talked about the possibility of getting a resource officer, but it is still just in the discussion phase. Law enforcement agencies have reached out to us with some offers and to discuss the idea. There is a Safe Schools grant available for the first year, but the board has to make the commitment to fund it beyond that. It would be fruitless to have for one year and then have it go away.”

According to Patrick Gavin, Superintendent at Oil City, his district currently has a security officer, as well as someone monitoring the halls throughout the school day, though they no longer have a resource officer due to a loss of funding for the position.

Titusville School District also faced a similar issue.

“We used to have an officer through the city, but that grant ran its course, and neither the city nor the district felt we could continue to fund it. But our city police are only two and a half blocks away from our high school,” Jez explained.

All of the administrators we spoke to noted they have regular drills, keep all entrances and exits locked during school hours, and require some kind of check-in for guests entering the buildings, as well as having the schools equipped with security cameras.

Even with all of these precautions, our local schools have still faced threats.

“Yes, we’ve had some threats, and we dealt with those with the police, and those students are no longer in school,” said Gavin. “With social media, we just have a difficult time getting ahead of it. There were rumors regarding Hasson Elementary School recently, and we put out a robocall, but we just couldn’t get ahead of it; the rumors, you can’t get to the bottom of them fast enough.”

“The whole incident in (Parkland) Florida has really struck a nerve,” continued Gavin.

Dye stated, “We had a student come to the principal: she heard three boys plotting to shoot up school. The principal investigated and turned the issue over to the state police. I can’t really discuss the specifics of our discipline, but it was handled according to our discipline policy.”

Jez said, “There was a statement made which was fully investigated last week — a statement that turned out to not be an actual threat — just a kid popping off, making a joke in poor taste.”

“We also recently expelled a student due to a violation of our weapons policy.”

Schools take any possible threat very seriously and investigate everything thoroughly.

“The one thing we did, immediately after Florida, we reminded everyone about being diligent, and the ‘See Something, Say Something’ campaign,” Jez added.

exploreVenango.com also asked local administrators how they felt about allowing teachers to carry firearms. Though this is an often contentious topic, several administrators were willing to weigh in.

Dye said, “I am not in favor of arming teachers with guns. They went to school to be teachers. That’s an unnecessary burden on teachers, and it is a lot to ask.”

“I will speak to it personally, and I understand the concern that some people are raising, but I personally and professionally do not believe it is a good idea. I know that people don’t get into education to wield guns, they get into it to help kids and to educate kids and keep our democracy going. My concern would be, if you have teachers armed, and there is an intruder, then the police come, and they see someone armed, a teacher could get shot,” Jez said.

“Sometimes we look for the quick solution. We have to do something, and it’s probably one of those cases, people are looking for something to help protect our students and staff. Like with any suggestion, if you get the right people trained, it could be positive, but on the other hand, you have guns in school with the possibility of them falling into the wrong hands. It really needs to be investigated a lot further than it has been,” Gavin said.

Whether the schools are seeing more security personnel, new equipment, or just a better understanding of the needs of their students, it really all comes down to one thing, as Jez put it, “We do everything we can to ensure the safety of everyone in our schools.”

Here’s a look at some of the recent threats in Butler, Jefferson, Mercer, Clarion, and Venango counties have contended with the following threats in their schools:

Butler County: Karns City Area School District Bomb Threat, February 20

In Butler County, a student made a bomb threat against Karns City High School on Tuesday, February 20.

Butler-based State Police say the threat was written in the school’s bathroom.

On Friday, February 23, Butler-based State Police arrested 18-year-old Garrett Michael DeBacco, of Cowansville.

DeBacco, a junior at Karns City High School, is accused of making the bomb threat against the school.

According to court documents, DeBacco was arraigned at 2:45 p.m. on February 23 in Magisterial District Judge Lewis E. Stoughton on the following charge:

– Bomb Threats — Threatens Placement Of Bomb, Felony 3

Unable to post $50,000.00, he was lodged in the Butler County Jail.

Jefferson County: Punxsutawney Area School District Threats

In Jefferson County, the Punxsutawney Area School District had to cope with multiple threats recently.

According to school Superintendent Dr. Thomas Lesniewski, there were four separate threats by four students, two each in the high school and middle school.

“They were not direct threats to anyone specific, but they were all taken very seriously and the students have been punished and the police were contacted,” Dr. Lesniewski told exploreJeffersonPA.com.

“It’s a credit to our student body that they informed their teachers, and we were able to deal with it quickly.”

Lesniewski said one of the threats included writing on the bathroom wall. Three of the threats were bomb-related and another involved the threat of a shooting.

As for discipline, Dr. Lesniewski said punishment could include up to a 10-day suspension and a possible disciplinary hearing. Charges have also been filed against some of the juvenile students involved in the threats.

“Our main goal is to try and help our students, so it’s not all about punishment, but hopefully everyone got the message that this type of behavior isn’t acceptable,” Dr. Lesniewski said.

He also said the school district would soon hold a practice drill for a lockdown situation.

“This is a difficult situation for schools to deal with and it’s not something we’re going to fix tomorrow, but we’ll keep working on it,” Dr. Lesniewski said.

Calls to Punxsutawney Borough Police Department for comment were not immediately returned.

Punxsutawney Area School District, Gun Threat, March 14

After the time of our interview with Dr. Lesniewski, another threat occurred at Punxsutawney Area School District. On Wednesday, March 14, the State Police were alerted to posts made to Instagram including photos of a known 14-year-old juvenile brandishing a handgun and a simulated rifle/long gun. The text which accompanied the posts inferred that gun violence would be committed against other students.

The juvenile was taken into custody and admitted to making the posts in an effort to keep some other students from bullying him any longer. He was charged and taken into the custody of the Jefferson County Juvenile Probation Department.

Jefferson County: Brookville Area School District Threats

Two more threats of school violence occurred in mid-March at Brookville Area High School.

On Monday, March 12, a female juvenile posted on Instagram that two men were going to come to the pep rally on Friday at the high school and shoot cheerleaders. She was charged with terroristic threats in juvenile court.

On Thursday, March 15, another female student at the high school made a bomb threat. According to Chief Markle, the student was charged with disorderly conduct, also in juvenile court.

Mercer County: Lakeview Middle/High School Bomb Threat

A possible bomb threat forced the evacuation of the Lakeview Middle/High School in Stoneboro, Mercer County, on Friday, March 2.

Mercer-based State Police said troopers were at the school, and a bomb-sniffing dog was expected to help check it.

Students were at evacuation sites while state police cleared the building for a safe return.

Venango County: Franklin Area High School Threat

Three Franklin Area High School students are facing charges following a threat of violence at the school.

According to a release issued by Franklin-based State Police Tpr. Miller, a potential threat of violence was reported to school officials on Monday.

A full investigation was conducted and it was determined that there was no imminent danger to staff or students.

Three juveniles – two 16-year-old males and one 15-year-old male – will be charged with terroristic threats through District Judge Matthew T. Kirtland’s office.

They will be processed through the juvenile court system.

“The safety and security of school students and staff in all districts is the primary concern and every potential threat will be thoroughly investigated,” said Tpr. Miller in the release.

Franklin Superintendent Pamela Dye released the following statement to the media:

“Yesterday, a threat of violence was reported to the high school principal by a student. It was determined to be an authentic threat and the matter was turned over to the Franklin State Police.”

“The district followed our discipline policy. A call was made last evening to the parents/faculty/staff of the junior-senior high school to provide information that a threat had been made and it was be handled by the Franklin State Police. Of course, the safety and welfare of our school community is of utmost importance.”

Venango County: Oil City Area School District Threats

On Friday, February 23, Oil City Police Department issued the following press release involving threats reported in the Oil City Area School District (OCASD):

Within the past two weeks, the Oil City Police Department has responded to the Oil City Senior High School (OCHS) and Middle School (OCMS) on eight separate occasions for reported threats of students possessing firearms on school property, acts of aggression towards other students and faculty, and incidents with the intent to cause alarm and instill fear.

Working in conjunction with OCHS and OCMS staff, all of the juvenile actors involved have been introduced to the Venango County Juvenile Justice System. All actors have been criminally prosecuted on charges ranging from Causing/and or Risking a Catastrophe, Felony Terroristic Threats, Simple Assault, Misdemeanor Terroristic Threats, Misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct, as well as others.

The Oil City Police Department and OCASD have taken a Zero Tolerance approach to these incidents.

Any actor involved has been criminally prosecuted.

Any actors that may decide to demonstrate similar behavior in the future will be criminally prosecuted as well.

The Zero Tolerance approach applies to incidents of utterances and joking, in addition to willful misconduct.

Venango County: Sugarcreek Elementary Threat, Thursday, March 15

According to a representative from the Sugarcreek Borough Police Department, the threat was confirmed through an automated phone call from the school to parents.

The person who made the threat was taken into custody.

Clarion County: Clarion Elementary Bomb Threat

According to Clarion Borough Police Chief William Peck IV, a juvenile was taken into custody after a verbal bomb threat on Tuesday, March 6.

Chief Peck said a State Police Bomb Squad was at the school checking for potential devices.

According to Clarion Borough Police Officer Kemmer, elementary school students were taken to the high school.

The case is being handled through the juvenile system.

Clarion County: Keystone Bomb Threat

According to district superintendent Shawn Algoe, someone wrote a threatening message on a bathroom wall near the high school gymnasium.

Parents were in the school around 7:00 p.m. on Sunday during music practice when one of them discovered the threatening message.

The message read: “There’s a bomb and bombs away.”

Algoe said it’s likely the threat was made on Saturday, March 11, following basketball games being held at the school.

“We believe this occurred on Saturday when there were four basketball teams playing at the school,” said Algoe. “None of the teams were Keystone. Keystone just hosted the event.”

Algoe said the authorities were contacted immediately and the Pennsylvania State Police used bomb-sniffing dogs to search the school for explosives.

No explosives were found.

Authorities cleared the scene around Midnight.

The school reopened on Monday, operating under its normal schedule.

Parents were notified of the threat via an automated one-call message on Sunday evening.

No suspects have been identified.

The incident remains under investigation.

Warren County: Sheffield Area Middle High School Treats

According to a report released by the Warren-based State Police, around 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 6, PSP Warren Troopers responded to the Sheffield Area Middle High School to investigate a verbal threat which was made by a known juvenile male indicating he would “shoot up the school.” As troopers arrived on the scene, the threat was assessed and thoroughly investigated.

The juvenile was taken into custody, while a juvenile petition was being prepared to charge him with third-degree felony Terroristic Threats and Disorderly Conduct. An emergency hearing was held in front of Judge Hammond, and the juvenile was committed to an Adolescent Center in Oil City pending an adjudication hearing.

Warren County: Warren Area High School Threats

At 3:05 p.m. on Tuesday, March 6, a was also reported at the Warren Area High School. Warren-based State Troopers responded to the high school and conducted a thorough criminal investigation and subsequently arrested a known 16-year-old male for making verbal threats to “shoot up the school.”

He was taken into custody and charged with third-degree Terroristic Threats and Disorderly Conduct. He was then taken into custody by Warren County Juvenile Probation and placed accordingly awaiting an adjudication hearing.

Warren County: Warren Area Elementary Center Threats

Around 9:24 a.m. on Tuesday, March 13, PSP Warren Troopers responded to the Warren Area Elementary Center to investigate a written threat that was made by a 10-year-old juvenile. It stated, “kill all teachers” along with disturbing hand-drawn sketches. The accused juvenile was removed from the school and a juvenile petition was prepared for third-degree felony Terroristic Threats and Disorderly Conduct. The juvenile petition will be referred to the Warren County Juvenile Probation Office.

Around 10:19 a.m., while investigating the previously mentioned incident, it was brought to the attention of PSP Troopers by WAEC staff that another separate threat had been made by a seven-year-old juvenile. That threat remains under investigation.