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School issues discipline in Orange bomb threats
(by Sali McSherry - December 28, 2011)
School issues discipline in Orange bomb threats
By SALI McSHERRY
Students identified in connection with recent bomb threats at Orange schools are being disciplined appropriately by the district, high school Principal Paul Lucas said. But no arrests have been made, according to Pepper Pike police and the FBI.
Two homes were searched Dec. 6 by law enforcement officials, one at West Orange Hill Circle and another on Blossom Lane.
FBI spokesman Scott Wilson said Tuesday there are no new developments, and it has not been determined when anyone will be charged.
He said the person or persons responsible for the multiple threats used a sophisticated method of masking the emails, making them difficult to track and identify.
"The content of these threatening emails has been analyzed by the FBI, and even though the FBI deems these emails as very serious, we believe the specific threats are not credible. The person or persons responsible have very limited knowledge of the types of explosives and biological threats that they have described in their emails," Mr. Wilson said.
Orange High School was closed for three days in November due to the bomb threats. Students and staff are making up the time, as required by the state. The school day has been extended 30 minutes through Feb. 1.
Mr. Lucas said, "I have had the opportunity to complete a thorough investigation of the recent bomb threats sent to the high school. Although conducted in a collaborative manner, the school investigation and police investigation are independent of one another. The standards necessary for the imposition of school discipline are different than the standard that must be met by law enforcement, and, as such, law enforcement agencies are still in the process of completing their investigation.
"The closure of the school investigation is due to the tireless efforts of school resource officer Todd Bennett, Orange High School assistant principals Barb Davis and Jasmine Clark, and the district's central office staff and administration along with the collaboration of the FBI."
Mr. Lucas also thanked the high school staff and the Orange community for their patience, understanding, flexibility and resolve.
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