WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	School nearly empty despite arrest in threat (Waterbury-WTNH) _ Despite the arrest of a 15 year old student, and assurances from school administrators, only a few students showed up for class today at Wallace Middle School and Crosby High School in Waterbury. Someone had posted a threat against the school on an internet chat room. Thursday police announced the arrest of a 15 year old student. Still, some parents and students were worried, so the superintendent told parents their kids didn't have to go to class today if they didn't feel safe. Many accepted that offer. News Channel 8's Leon Collins reports. Out of a usual student body of 1,100 students, only 100 Crosby students showed up. At Wallace Middle School 180 out of about 1,200 showed up. From talking to people in downtown Waterbury, attendance at other schools is also down. Mayor Philip Giordano, Waterbury (Speaking over PA system): "And to the children that out there, thank you very, very much for coming into school today. You're safety is tantamount to anything we do in the city of Waterbury." At 8:00 this morning, Mayor Philip Giordano spoke to students on the public address system at Crosby High School, however the mayor's voice echoed through mostly empty hallways and classrooms. Following a bomb threat and the arrest of a 15 year old Thursday, hundreds of parents opted to keep their students away from the Crosby High/Wallace Middle complex today. Denise Brunetti, Parent: "I feel safer just keeping 'em home, just to make sure there's nobody else out there; accomplices or whatever. I didn't want to be the one who sent him, make him go, and then if something did happen I have to live with it." Harry Davis, 6th Grader: "We were scared it might happen today, and that's shy I'm staying home. My friends are staying home too." Since the threat, Waterbury schools have emptied and secured all student lockers at all Waterbury schools, and students must use transparent book bags. However, many parents in Waterbury decided to keep their children at home on the day someone threatened to take action. Al Ramos, Parent: "When something like this happens elsewhere and it hits close to home, sure, as a precaution you take measures." In an unrelated incident, Waterbury police say another threat was made in an internet chat room against another school, Blessed Sacrament Elementary. A 14 year suspected of writing that threat is expected to be arrested this afternoon. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

School nearly empty despite arrest in threat
(Waterbury-WTNH) _ Despite the arrest of a 15 year old student, and assurances from school administrators, only a few students showed up for class today at Wallace Middle School and Crosby High School in Waterbury.
Officers on bikes outside school Someone had posted a threat against the school on an internet chat room. Thursday police announced the arrest of a 15 year old student. Still, some parents and students were worried, so the superintendent told parents their kids didn't have to go to class today if they didn't feel safe. Many accepted that offer.
News Channel 8's Leon Collins reports.

Out of a usual student body of 1,100 students, only 100 Crosby students showed up. At Wallace Middle School 180 out of about 1,200 showed up. From talking to people in downtown Waterbury, attendance at other schools is also down.

Mayor Philip Giordano, Waterbury (Speaking over PA system): "And to the children that out there, thank you very, very much for coming into school today. You're safety is tantamount to anything we do in the city of Waterbury."

Empty Classroom At 8:00 this morning, Mayor Philip Giordano spoke to students on the public address system at Crosby High School, however the mayor's voice echoed through mostly empty hallways and classrooms.

Following a bomb threat and the arrest of a 15 year old Thursday, hundreds of parents opted to keep their students away from the Crosby High/Wallace Middle complex today.

Denise Brunetti, Parent: "I feel safer just keeping 'em home, just to make sure there's nobody else out there; accomplices or whatever. I didn't want to be the one who sent him, make him go, and then if something did happen I have to live with it."

Harry Davis, 6th Grader: "We were scared it might happen today, and that's shy I'm staying home. My friends are staying home too."

Since the threat, Waterbury schools have emptied and secured all student lockers at all Waterbury schools, and students must use transparent book bags.

However, many parents in Waterbury decided to keep their children at home on the day someone threatened to take action.

Al Ramos, Parent: "When something like this happens elsewhere and it hits close to home, sure, as a precaution you take measures."

In an unrelated incident, Waterbury police say another threat was made in an internet chat room against another school, Blessed Sacrament Elementary. A 14 year suspected of writing that threat is expected to be arrested this afternoon.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.