MHS Closed in Face of "Non-Specific" Threats

by Judy Silberstein

(May 22, 2008) Threats found in several places inside Mamaroneck High School led the administration to cancel school on Thursday morning, May 22. “They were not targeted at anyone,” said MHS Principal Dr. Mark Orfinger, “but just to be prudent, we decided to cancel classes for students.”

School spokesperson Joan Rosen described the threats as “non-specific.” “We are working very closely with the Village of Mamaroneck police to find out who did this.” Police have asked that further details be withheld at this time.

Significantly, the Westchester County bomb squad has not been called in, suggesting that the “non-specific” threats are not the same as those that disrupted school during the first week of March. (See: Fifth Bomb Threat in 4 Days Evacuates MHS & Hommocks.)

The perpetrator of the bomb threats at the high school has not been apprehended, although a 13-year-old Hommocks student was identified as the person responsible for scrawling “copy cat” threats in three bathrooms at the middle school on March 6. (See: Boy Identified as Leaving Hommocks Bomb Threats.) Two other copy cats, both 15-year-old MHS students, were charged with felonies in connection to separate threats found on March 7.(See: Two MHS Students Arrested for "Copycat" Bomb Reports.)

There were disciplinary actions taken by the school in all three cases, though district policy precludes releasing details. Police also declined to identify the students because of their ages.

School Disrupted

Although he was able to add few details, Dr. Orfinger said, “I feel saddened that the whole educational system is disrupted. We have students preparing for Regents and teachers finishing the curriculum for the year. All is put on hold when something like this occurs.“

One student who had prepared for a history exam was not amused. ”I think it’s ridiculous,” said Andrew Dilworth, a junior. “It’s not funny, it was never funny.” He referred to recent attacks on college campuses and said, “This should not be treated lightly.” Then he added, “It scares a lot of people, and it should be stopped.”

Superintendent Dr. Paul Fried activated the district’s “ConnectEd” automated call system at around 7:30 Thursday morning to inform parents and students that the school would be closed. Those students who failed to receive the message were turned away when they arrived at school.

Teachers and administrators were allowed into the building and were working a full day. Also, any activities planned for outside the school – such as field trips or after school sports – were allowed to continue as scheduled. However, any event that required entry into the building was canceled, including the participation of the MHS Band in the Memorial Day Parade.

The school has reverted to a more rigorous security protocol. Directly after the bomb threats in March, a series of extra measures were implemented – back packs were banned temporarily, and volunteers monitored all doors. Even after the administration and police were confident of the building’s safety, all but two entrances continued to be closed. Ms. Rosen said there will be “increased vigilance” when school re-opens on Tuesday, May 27, after the long Memorial Day weekend break.

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