Threat to shoot Miller middle school in Lake Katrine was written on a girls’ bathroom wall, superintendent says – Daily Freeman
TOWN OF ULSTER, NY — A threat to ‘shot up’ M. Clifford Miller Middle School in Lake Katrine was found written on a girls’ bathroom wall at the Fording Place Road school, Superintendent of Schools Paul Padalino wrote in a post on the district website.
“While we have not yet identified the individual who wrote the message, I am able to share with you that it was found written on a wall in one of the girls’ bathrooms and included the following: ‘the School will be shot up Monday 30th 208,’” Padalino wrote.
The superintendent said town of Ulster police “have assigned additional officers to the investigation.”
“For the safety and security of our school community,” Padalino said the district was to conduct bag checks of all persons entering the school at 65 Fording Place Road in Lake Katrine. Also, additional security personnel and police will be stationed on the campus, he said.
Padalino said police and district security “conducted a thorough check of the building on Friday and deemed it safe. But “out of an abundance of caution” postponed a dance at the school that was scheduled on Friday evening.
“Ensuring a safe environment is always our priority and we will continue to cooperate fully with the Town of Ulster Police to bring closure to this situation. All threats are taken seriously and those engaging in this type of behavior will be disciplined according to our Code of Conduct,” Padalino wrote.
The anonymous threat was brought to the district’s attention on Friday, Jan. 27, and police were called to the scene.
On Saturday, town of Ulster Police Chief Kyle Berardi said the post was discovered after the regular school day ended on Friday.
Authorities said the school was “swept” and the building was deemed safe on Friday.
“Detectives are currently working with the school resource officer and school officials in narrowing down the number of students who were in the area and the investigation is still ongoing,” Berardi said Saturday. “We will strive to work with school officials and the school community to make not only Miller Middle School but every school in the school district a place where students feel safe and secure.”