UPDATE @ 6:10 p.m. (April 29):
Springboro High School has imposed new rules and procedures for students after two bomb threats were made in the past six weeks, said Principal Kyle Martin.
“We are not allowing students to use the restrooms during class change,” he said.
Students must report straight to their next class, and then can seek permission to go to the restroom from that point, but, he said, “they must sign in and out name, the destination, and the time they are leaving and the time that they enter back into the classroom.
“This will allow us to keep a really close track on where kids are at and how long they have been out of the classroom,” Martin said.
Also, beginning today, students were not permitted to enter the high school until 7 a.m. Before, students were allowed to enter the Commons at 6 a.m.
The most recent threat, written threat found in the bathroom on Wednesday, mentioned a bomb and ventilation. This prompted school to evacuate Wednesday and led school to cancel Thursday.
“We did not find any evidence of anything in the building at all,” Martin said.
Students were told of the changes this morning, he said, and when the culprit is discovered, he or she will receive a 10-day suspension with recommendation for expulsion.
“We will be prosecuting to the fullest extent, which will be felony criminal charges,” Martin said. “We have communicated that clearly to the students.”
UPDATE @ 7:43 a.m. (April 29):
All Springboro schools will reopen today following a written bomb threat at the high school Wednesday.
The district has introduced new security guidelines for high school students.
Students are not permitted to enter the high school before 7 a.m. and students may only enter the high school through the doors to the Commons beginning at 7 a.m., the district said.
Additional rules are expected to be discussed with students today.
UPDATE @ 12:55 p.m. (April 28):
One day after a bomb threat on a bathroom wall prompted evacuations at Springboro High School and its closure today, a company specializing in searching building ventilation systems ensured the building was safe.
Meanwhile, school officials weighed the costs and benefits of such responses.
They evacuated and dismissed early on Wednesday, and closed the school today to ensure student safety.
Springboro Police Chief Jeff Kruithoff said there had been discussions with school officials about changing district policy.
“I do think at some point you reach a line saying, ‘These are not credible threats,’” Kruithoff said.
The school was evacuated, after a threat was found on the wall of the school, including the the words ‘bomb’, ‘ventilation’ and ‘five days’.
All evening activities Wednesday were canceled, including a baseball game and JROTC banquet.
“We take all threats seriously,” said the district’s statement.
Other school activities went on today. The school board is to meet tonight at 6 p.m. at the junior high school, next door on South Main Street, Ohio 73 in Springboro. The evacuation policy was not on the agenda, but could be discussed during the work session.
EARLIER REPORT (April 27):
The school, on South Main Street in Springboro, was evacuated Wednesday before 1 p.m. Students were dismissed for the day at 1:30 p.m.
“The high school will be closed tomorrow. All other buildings will be open,” Karen Lane DeRosa, the district’s communication coordinator, said Wednesday.
“Due to nature of the threat, there will be more of a search tomorrow,” DeRosa said, including a more “in-depth search” of the building, including the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
The threat included the words “bomb,” “ventilation” and “five days,” DeRosa said.
Police said they swept the building after a bomb threat was found, but that nothing was found.
All evening activities at the high school and adjoining junior high and Dennis Elementary schools, were canceled on Wednesday night. This included sports events and an JROTC banquet.
The student or students responsible will face criminal charges and expulsion, according to a post on the district’s Facebook page Wednesday.
“Students, it is important that you understand the consequences of making a threat. When we determine who is responsible, they will receive a 10-day suspension with a recommendation for expulsion. Felony criminal charges will be filed for making false alarms and inducing panic,” according to the statement.